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Technology distributors, often seen as a barometer of IT spending, should meet or surpass Wall Street projections when they report quarterly results, fueling hopes of a broader recovery in the sector.

Microsoft Corp is expected to report a strong jump in quarterly profit on Thursday, helped by the successful launch of Windows 7, but it may not be enough to satisfy demanding investors and push its stock higher.

Stocks snapped a three-day slide on Monday as signs that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would win a U.S. Senate vote for a second term helped ease investors' concerns.

Stocks snapped a three-day slide on Monday as signs that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke would win a Senate vote for a second term helped ease investors' concerns.

U.S. stocks fell for a third-straight day on Friday, dragged lower by technology shares after Google Inc's revenue and chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices Inc's sales outlook disappointed investors.

Oracle Corp will likely win European Union approval to buy Sun Microsystems Inc before the end of this week, clearing the way to close the long-delayed $7 billion deal, according to a person close to the company.

The Dow suffered its worst drop of 2010 on Wednesday as U.S. stocks succumbed to fears that China's curbs on bank lending might jeopardize the global economic recovery, while IBM's outlook sparked caution about the technology sector.

Wall Street suffered its worst slide of 2010 on Wednesday as investors worried that lending restrictions in China could hurt the global economic recovery, while a conservative outlook from IBM dented recent optimism about the technology sector.

U.S. stocks were having their worst day of 2010 on Wednesday as lending restrictions in China worried investors about the global economic recovery, while a conservative outlook from IBM weighed down technology shares.

U.S. stocks extended losses on Wednesday as investors pummeled technology shares, sending the Nasdaq down more than 2 percent following IBM's disappointing outlook.

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday as quarterly results from three big U.S. banks raised concerns about the stability of the sector and analysts questioned IBM's profit forecast.

Its history is peppered with cloak-and-dagger stories which fostered a reputation for winning technology by hook or by crook. But today Huawei Technologies' disciplined growth strategy is a beacon to many emerging markets firms.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.38 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.37 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.48 percent at 1018 GMT (5:18 a.m. EST).

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.38 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.37 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.48 percent at 1018 GMT (5:18 a.m. EST).

The euro slumped to four-month lows on Wednesday as the loss of a crucial support level triggered a wave of selling from investors afraid the single currency was embarking on a sustained slump.

IBM raised its 2010 profit target and reported a stronger-than-expected, 9 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings, as cost cuts and a shift to more profitable contracts helped it weather a slump in corporate spending.

The International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) announced on Tuesday its fourth-quarter earnings of 2009.

IBM raised its 2010 profit target and reported a stronger-than-expected 9 percent increase in fourth-quarter earnings, as cost cuts and a shift to more profitable contracts helped it weather a slump in corporate spending.

Stocks rose broadly on Tuesday, lifting the Dow and the S&P 500 to fresh 15-month closing highs as investors bet a potential Republican victory in Massachusetts' Senate race could stall Obama's reform agenda.

Stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Tuesday as U.S. markets reopen after a long holiday weekend, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.04 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.07 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.2 percent at 1030 GMT (5:30 a.m. EST).

Profits from top U.S. technology companies like IBM and financial companies like Goldman Sachs Group Inc this week could help stocks gain as long as investors see room for more profit growth.

IBM's quarterly results should show a solid recovery in technology spending, but investors will likely want reassurance of stronger growth in 2010 before pushing its stock price much higher.

Tata Consultancy Services glided past street estimates with a 33 percent rise in quarterly profit as demand for outsourcing surged and prices stabilised, fuelling hopes of recovery in the showpiece sector.

U.S. stocks traded flat to slightly higher on Thursday as upcoming earnings from Intel Corp spurred interest in technology shares, though gains were limited by an unexpected drop in December retail sales.

Asian shares rebounded on Thursday as fears receded that China's policy tightening would slow its demand, while strong Australian jobs data raised the chances of a February interest rate hike and boosted the Aussie dollar.

Share markets in Asia rebounded on Thursday as worries that China's policy tightening would slow its demand receded, while strong Australian jobs data raised the chances of a February interest rate hike and boosted the Aussie dollar.

Infosys Technologies, the country's No.2 outsourcer, raised its annual sales forecast as big financial services clients boost orders in an improving global economy, pointing to an industry recovery.

Network equipment maker Cisco Systems Inc plans to begin selling later this year a long-awaited, affordable home version of its TelePresence videoconferencing system for corporations.

Polycom Inc said it will work with IBM to introduce videoconferencing services aimed at consumers, competing with Skype and a yet-to-be announced product from Cisco Systems Inc.