GLOBAL MARKETS

Crude oil futures declined Friday as the lack of explicit hints about further quantitative easing from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke disappointed investors.

Chinese shares edged higher Friday after the People's Bank of China lowered benchmark interest rates for the first time in three years to boost economic growth.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell Friday as lack of indications of more monetary stimulus in the U.S. by the Federal Reserve undermined the interest rate cut by China.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Thursday were: Molina Healthcare, Centene Corp, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial, Ivanhoe Mines and MGIC Investment Corp. The top aftermarket NYSE losers were: Cooper Companies, Ellie Mae, FleetCor Technologies, Flotek Industries and Chicago Bridge & Iron Co.

U.S. crude oil futures fell more than $2 on Friday, pressured by uncertainty about the fragile economic recovery in the United States .

Stocks jumped at the open on Thursday after China's central bank cut bank lending and deposit rates, fueling hopes of simultaneous action to aid a flagging global economy.

Among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Thursday are: Lincoln National Corp, SINA Corp, Las Vegas Sands, Baidu.com, Bank of America, Royal Bank of Scotland, Morgan Stanley and Nokia Corp.

Hong Kong shares advanced Thursday, following solid gains on Wall Street overnight on hopes that major central banks including the US Federal Reserve might act to tackle deteriorating global economic conditions.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a slightly higher opening Thursday ahead of the report on weekly jobless claims and Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke?s congressional testimony.

Asian markets rose Thursday amid hopes that the U.S. Fed would announce another round of monetary easing and European policy makers would take concrete measures to tackle the debt crisis looming over the euro zone.

Among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Wednesday are: Ancestry.com, Telefonica, JPMorgan Chase, Shuffle Master, Logitech International, Diageo, Facebook and Mitcham Industries.

Futures on the major U.S. indices point to a higher opening Wednesday ahead of a report on the Federal Reserve's Beige Book and the European Central Bank's (ECB) monthly rate-setting meeting.

Crude oil futures edged higher Wednesday as positive US service sector data and the G7 leaders' pledge to tackle economic problems provided some relief to the markets.

Asian markets rose Wednesday amid positive economic data from the U.S. and the G7 finance ministers' decision to work closer together to tackle the euro zone economic crisis.

Stock markets in China and Hong Kong advanced Wednesday on speculation that the People's Bank of China will cut interest rates soon to help the economy regain its growth momentum.

India's BSE Sensex rose Wednesday following positive cues from Asian markets and the rupee gaining.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Tuesday were: Iron Mountain, KB Home, AES Corp, Guidewire Software and Banco Santander. The top aftermarket NYSE losers were: LRR Energy, Red Hat, Overseas Shipholding Group, Noranda Aluminum Holding and Nabors Industries.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose Wednesday amid positive US economic data and the G7 meeting's promise of a closer collaboration to tackle economic problems.

Among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Tuesday are: Rimage Corp, Brookfield Asset Management, Zynga, RADVISION, Starbucks, PT Telekomunikasi, Facebook, Deutsche Bank and SAP AG.

Crude oil futures hovered below $84 a barrel Tuesday as concerns over the euro zone debt crisis continued to weigh on the sentiment.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a slightly higher opening Tuesday ahead of the nonmanufacturing composite index report, as well as a teleconference among G7 leaders.

Stock markets in China and Hong Kong advanced Tuesday after data showed that the China's services industry expanded at its fastest rate in 19 months in May.

Asian markets rose Tuesday amid hopes that policy makers in Europe would take measures to stem the debt crisis and regain the economic growth momentum.

Stock markets in Japan advanced for the first time in five days Tuesday, bouncing up on bargain hunting after recent sharp sell-offs.

India's BSE Sensex rose Tuesday, tracking positive cues from other Asian markets and following recovery staged by the rupee.

Among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Monday are: AuRico Gold, Tata Motors, Cooper Companies, Seadrill, First Solar, salesforce.com, Schlumberger and Yum! Brands.

Crude oil prices declined for the fifth day Monday as sentiment was dampened after reports indicated a slowdown in China's nonmanufacturing activity and U.S. employment.

Futures on major U.S. indices point to a lower opening Monday ahead of the U.S. Dept. of Commerce's Report on Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories and Orders, and increasing concerns over the euro zone crisis.

Asian stock markets plunged Monday as weaker-than-expected economic data from the US and China raised concerns over the strength of global economic recovery.