Stock index futures dipped on Thursday after three straight winning sessions as investors bet leaders at a euro zone summit will come up with a solution to the region's debt crisis.
The ECB is expected to cut rates and unveil a new package of bank aid on Thursday, with markets also watching for any hint it will intensify its bond buying support for the bloc's struggling periphery, setting the stage for a critical euro zone summit.
Asian stock markets declined on Thursday, as investors' hopes declined over the outcome of a long-awaited crucial European Union (EU) summit later this week.
Crude oil prices advanced in Asian trade on Thursday ahead of long-awaited crucial European Union (EU) summit on the regional debt crisis.
The world's three biggest polluters China, the United States and India refused to move toward a new legal commitment to curb their carbon emissions Tuesday, increasing the risk that climate talks will fail to clinch a meaningful deal this week.
The European Union (EU) summit this Friday will consume market attention, as it will discuss steps to resolve the Eurozone debt crisis. Price sensitivity to headlines will persist, if not intensify, and make for jerky market moves.
Crude oil prices gained in European trade on Wednesday, following hopes that European leaders will approve aggressive plans for tackling the region's debt crisis at Friday's European Union (EU) summit.
Gold prices barely moved Wednesday ahead of a key Eurozone summit global that investors hope will finally produce a viable solution to Europe's 2-year-old debt crisis.
Growing optimism that euro zone leaders are on track to produce a confidence-boosting package of measures to solve the debt crisis at Friday's summit lifted risk appetite on Wednesday, with the euro and global equity markets posting gains.
After 18 years of negotiations, the World Trade Organization is expected to approve Russia's bid for entry, during its Dec. 15-17 conference.
China's annual rate of export growth slowed in November versus October, vice commerce minister Chong Quan told reporters on Wednesday, confirming market expectations that deteriorating external conditions are dragging on the world's No. 2 economy.
European stocks fell on Tuesday on fresh anxieties stemming from the European debt crisis.
The Bank of Canada kept its overnight interest rate at 1 percent on Tuesday, as expected, and gave no suggestion of an impending rate cut even though its view of the European debt crisis has clearly darkened.
On Monday, S&P placed the euro zone nations on “Credit watch,” which means a 50 percent likelihood of a downgrade over the next ninety days.
The European Commission is investigating whether e-book publishers owned by Lagardere, Pearson Plc, News Corp. and two other firms may have colluded with Apple to block rivals via their pricing deals.
The balance sheet of the Eurosystem of central banks hit a new high last week, while gold and gold receivables held by euro zone central banks remained unchanged at 419.822 billion euros in the week ending Dec. 2, European Central Bank data showed on Tuesday.
Stocks were set to edge higher at the open on Tuesday as investors hoped S&P's downgrade warning for the Eurozone would help force budget changes at a European Union summit this week.
A European Union committee approved more than 200 health claims Monday for use on food products, which could offer a competitive advantage to companies seeking to target health-conscious EU consumers.
European shares were flat on Tuesday at mid-day as strategists said they were optimistic policymakers would make progress on a solution for the region's debt crisis, though Standard & Poor's warned it might downgrade top-rated Germany and other Eurozone countries.
European stocks and the euro slid and most bond yields rose after the threat from rating agency Standard & Poor's to downgrade Eurozone countries en masse if no credible plan to solve the debt crisis emerges at a summit later this week.
Gold prices fell Tuesday on a lack of Asian demand for bullion and investor discouragement that four consecutive daily efforts to push the price convincingly above the mid-$1,700s failed.
India gold futures fell back on Tuesday afternoon to their lowest level in a week, following overseas trends, where fears of a possible credit rating downgrade for eurozone nations by Standard & Poor's weighed.
