Reuters - Two U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission employees are under investigation by federal criminal authorities for allegedly using insider information to trade stocks, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

AP - Asian stock markets recovered modestly Friday, with Japan's benchmark gaining nearly 2 percent on better-than-expected news about company spending in the world's second-largest economy. European markets were mostly higher.

AP - Asian stock markets tumbled Thursday as signs of distress among American consumers deflated hopes for a faster end to the global recession.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets eased on Thursday as investors tracked heavy losses earlier in Asia and overnight on Wall Street that were sparked by weak US retail sales data.

AFP - Shares in London ended slightly up on Thursday to break a three-session losing streak.

AP - Investors cautiously returned to Wall Street Thursday, lured by beaten down financial and retail stocks.

Reuters - Stocks extended gains on Thursday, led by a rebound in financial and big-cap technology shares as investors scooped up riskier equities after a recent pullback.

Reuters - Stocks tumbled on Wednesday as a gloomy retail sales report revived recent anxiety about the economy's struggle and caused a broad sell-off that accelerated late in the session.