AFP - European stock markets recovered strongly Friday as data showed business confidence rebounding from record lows in Germany, and investors shrugged off a sharp contraction in British growth.

AFP - Oil prices jumped above 51 dollars on Friday, winning support from the flagging dollar and rising stock markets, despite concerns about weak demand arising from the global economic downturn.

Reuters - Stocks held gains on Friday after the government released a much anticipated concept paper on stress tests for the 19 biggest U.S. banks.

Reuters - Oil rose on Thursday as a fall in the dollar and stock market gains outweighed rising U.S. inventories.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose in volatile trade on Thursday as better-than-expected results from several regional banks lifted financial shares, overshadowing disappointing economic data and anemic outlooks from economic bellwethers like United Parcel Service.

AP - About halfway through first-quarter earnings reports, Wall Street still isn't sure where the economy is headed.

Reuters - World stocks and the euro rose on Friday after a bigger-than-expected rise in Germany's key corporate sentiment survey, while better earnings from several regional U.S. banks also boosted investor morale.

AFP - The London stock market rebounded in opening trade on Friday ahead of the release of gloomy economic data and after closing down the day before.

AP - Most Asian markets dropped Friday as investors braced for news about the "stress tests" on major U.S. banks, while weak company results undercut hopes for an economic recovery. European markets opened higher.

AP - European stock markets were little changed Thursday ahead of an expected solid opening on Wall Street, where investors appear to have been cheered by upbeat earnings from technology firm Apple Inc.