AP - Asian markets were mixed Thursday as sliding retail sales in Japan and the looming bankruptcy of auto giant General Motors undercut optimism about a global recovery.

AP - Asian markets were mixed Thursday as the looming bankruptcy of auto giant General Motors and sliding retail sales in Japan undercut optimism about a global recovery. European shares opened lower.

Reuters - World stocks rose and oil prices hit a 2009 high on Wednesday, while the yen fell after improving consumer confidence in the United States and Europe boosted expectations the global economy is starting to recover.

AFP - World stock markets rose Wednesday on hopes of a global economic recovery, after an overnight Wall Street rally that was sparked by an unexpected surge in US consumer confidence, analysts said.

AP - World stock markets rose Wednesday despite mounting tensions in the Korean peninsula, as investors continued to warm to hopes that the U.S. economy has seen off the worst of the economic recession and may start to grow later this year.

AFP - The London stock market inched higher for the third straight session on Wednesday as investors continued to take heart from positive US consumer confidence data.

Reuters - The Dow and S&P 500 indexes each fell more than 1 percent, led by materials and industrial shares, in afternoon trading on Wednesday, while the Nasdaq turned negative.

AP - Wall Street's rally is going back on hold as investors worry about how much the government is borrowing.

AP - Consumers are getting more confident about the economy, and Wall Street is tagging along.