AP - Investors are growing more confident that the bruised economy is starting to heal.

AP - Asian stock markets were mostly higher Friday as stronger-than-expected results from bellwether companies gave investors more reasons to hope the worst of the global recession was over. European markets were mixed in early trade.

AFP - Shares in London rose at the start of trade on Thursday helped by a positive mood in the banking sector.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets advanced Thursday, after Wall Street soared overnight, as investors digested poor Chinese economic growth ahead of key US data and bank results.

AP - World stock markets remained subdued Thursday as relief over China's economic growth was offset by renewed fears about the state of the U.S. economy ahead of key earnings releases from leading American banks.

AFP - Stocks in London shot up on Thursday as investors took news of a healthy profit performance at US bank JPMorgan Chase as evidence of more green shoots of recovery.

AP - Stocks edged higher Thursday afternoon following some good surprises from earnings reports, but mixed news on the economy held the gains in check.

Reuters - Stocks jumped on Thursday as expectations of reassuring quarterly results from bellwethers including Google lifted technology shares, while JPMorgan's better-than-expected profit added to bank stabilization hopes.

AP - The head of the Securities and Exchange Commission said Wednesday the agency must do more to tighten oversight of Wall Street's credit-rating industry to help bolster investor confidence. Proposals to reshape the industry and its supervision were advanced at a public forum hosted by the agency.

AP - Investors put money into shares of consumer products and financial companies Wednesday as they latched onto signs that the recession could be easing its chokehold on the economy.