Stock index futures fell on Friday as concerns over Spain's rising borrowing costs resurfaced and after disappointing Chinese growth data, and banks fell after quarterly results.
Barely minutes after takeoff, North Korea's rocket exploded scattering debris over the Yellow Sea, triggering an international search as the US and other countries believe that the debris could be a mine of information to assess the reclusive country's nuclear and missile capabilities.
Stock index futures fell on Friday as concerns over Spain's rising borrowing costs resurfaced and after Chinese data that had fueled the previous day's rally disappointed.
China's economy grew at its slowest in nearly three years in the first three months of 2012, with a weaker than expected reading raising investor concerns that a five-quarter long slide has not bottomed and that more policy action would be needed to halt it.
Asian stock markets ended with gains for the second day Friday after North Korean's much touted long-range rocket launch failed.
The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Thursday were: China Cord Blood Corp, Sandridge Energy, Unisys Corp, Overseas Shipholding Group, Dow Chemical, 3D Systems Corp, Sara Lee Corp, Venoco, Thompson Creek Metals and Renren Inc.
Growth was 8.1 percent in the first quarter, the lowest since the same period in 2009, largely due to weak global demand and reduced investment in domestic real estate.
China's economy grew at its slowest in nearly three years in the first three months of 2012, with a weaker than expected reading raising investor concerns that a five-quarter long slide has not bottomed and that more policy action would be needed to halt it.
Asian shares rose Friday on better-than-expected demand for Italian sovereign debt, shrugging off the failed rocket launch by North Korea before the markets opened.
A stronger firewall is needed to protect the world economy from Europe's debt crisis, but the International Monetary Fund may not need as much money as it thought just a few months ago, the head of the global lender said on Thursday.
Watch live streaming coverage of practice for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, plus read a full preview.
The number of Americans filing for jobless aid hit a two-month high last week and more applications were received in the prior week than initially reported, suggesting a cooling in the labor market recovery.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc is focused on improving results in China and other foreign countries where it already operates, rather than on entering new markets, its top international executive said on Thursday.
Google reported first-quarter financial results that beat analysts' estimates by a wide margin.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon sternly rebuked North Korea on Thursday for its planned rocket launch, which is scheduled to take place sometime before Tuesday.
Titanic 3D has been a tremendous success in China, but some fans have been outraged by the deletion of Kate Winslets nude scene, where her breasts are exposed as she's drawn by Leonardo DiCaprio's character, Jack.
U.S. stocks rose more than 1 percent on Thursday as lower Italian bond yields eased some euro-zone concerns and rumors about China's strong GDP growth bolstered investors' appetite for risk.
He's the flashiest tycoon in one of Asia's poorest cities, with a canary-yellow Lamborghini parked outside his neoclassical mansion.
Stocks rose on Thursday as lower yields on some euro-zone debt eased some concerns and rumors about China's strong GDP increased investors' appetite for risk.
Stocks rose on Thursday as lower yields on some euro-zone debt eased some concerns and rumors about China's strong GDP increased investors' appetite for risk.
Mercedes' innovative F-duct rear-wing design has been declared legal by FIA stewards, ahead of the Chinese Grand Prix, following a protest by Lotus.
Reports, rumors and fabrications about appalling labor violations at Foxconn factories in China left Apple enthusiasts thoughtful and confused when they purchased their new iPad on March.16.
