CHINA

The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Expedia, Seagate Technology, Cutera, ShoreTel, and Select Comfort. The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Hercules Offshore, Idenix Pharmaceuticals, Sangamo Biosciences, PostRock Energy, and China-Biotics.

Oil climbed to its highest level in 2- years on Friday as supply cuts stemming from attacks on Libyan oil fields offset demand concerns spurred by a major aftershock in Japan.

The Chinese state news agency Xinhua has revealed pictures of an aircraft carrier Varyag, which is being built at a shipyard in Dalian, China.

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday called on law enforcement agencies to look into a cyber attack that took his blog offline for at least an hour a day earlier.

DBS Research Group just released an event chart that explains the movement of EUR/USD. The chart, seen right, goes back to April 2010.

Brent crude futures dipped on Thursday, as investors worried after five days of gains that oil had become expensive enough to crimp economic growth and cut demand.

Physical Gold Investment prices held near yesterday's new all-time Dollar highs in London trade on Thursday, rising toward 3-week highs in Euro terms even as the European Central Bank made good on its promise to raise Eurozone base rates.

The legendary musician performed his first concert in the mainland China on Wednesday. He had to stick to a set list that was pre-approved by the government so it would not offend the nation's Communist rulers.

Dylan was granted permission last month by the Chinese government to perform shows in Beijing and Shanghai.

The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Xenoport, ZAGG, Bed Bath & Beyond, Immucor, Immunogen, and China Gerui Advanced Materials Group. The top pre-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Qiao Xing Universal Resources, Travelzoo, Power-One, Advanced Energy Industries, and ASML Holding.

U.S. stock markets ended higher on Wednesday, led by gains from technology and banking sector stocks.

Stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Wall Street on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500, for the Dow Jones and for the Nasdaq 100 trading little changed.

The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: Xenoport, Bed Bath & Beyond, Immucor, Fortinet, and Tesco. The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Power-One, Tuesday Morning, Advanced Analogic Technologies, ISTA Pharmaceuticals, and Lincare Holdings.

Gold is the world's most stable asset and the best gauge of inflation. The National Inflation Association (NIA) says this brand new breakout in the price of gold leads us to believe that the Federal Reserve is getting ready to unleash QE3 at the end of June.

Chemicals giant DuPont sued a California company on Wednesday, alleging it sold proprietary information on a lucrative line of specialty paint to Chinese rivals.

Donald Trump is the most sensational candidate to informally announce his candidacy for the 2012 presidential election.

U.S. stocks pared earlier gains as energy companies’ shares declined after a higher-than-expected increase in petroleum inventories and Monsanto Co. shares declined as its revenue fell short of expectations.

American Superconductor's shares plunged 44 percent on Wednesday, a day after the maker of electrical systems for wind farms said its largest customer refused to accept shipments, a move that could trigger a series of problems for the U.S. company.

Oil prices hit fresh peaks on Wednesday, rising to their highest since August 2008, buoyed by unrest in the Middle East and North Africa and dollar weakness ahead of an expected European Central Bank interest rate rise.

Rio Tinto is close to securing a majority of Riversdale Mining , after receiving acceptances ahead of its target level, just before a key deadline on its A$3.9 billion ($4 billion) bid.

Oil prices hit fresh peaks on Wednesday, rising to highest since August 2008, buoyed by unrest in the Middle East and North Africa and dollar weakness ahead of an expected European Central Bank interest rate increase.