PORTUGAL

Brent crude futures dipped on Thursday after five days of gains, hovering around $122 a barrel on concerns that strong prices could crimp demand, with the European Central Bank lifting rates to control inflation.

The European Central Bank raised interest rates by 25 basis points to 1.25 percent on Thursday, announcing its first hike since July 2008 to counter firming inflation pressures in the 17-country euro zone.

U.S. stock index futures were little changed on Thursday before data on the labor market and same-store sales, which could offer clues about the outlook for U.S. consumer spending.

The European Central Bank is poised to raise interest rates from a record low 1.0 percent on Thursday and more is likely to follow but, fearful of heaping more pain on the euro zone's stragglers, it will give few clues about when the next move will come.

Portuguese bank stocks rallied on Thursday after the caretaker government requested European financial aid and analysts saying a deal could be negotiated quickly despite a political vacuum during an election campaign.

U.S. stock markets ended higher on Wednesday, led by gains from technology and banking sector stocks. Cisco Systems led gains in technology stocks after CEO John Chambers said in a memo to employees that the company has lost its way and will need to restore its credibility. Chambers suggested Cisco might change operations to narrow the company's focus.

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 European Central Bank is poised to raise interest rates from a record low 1.0 percent on Thursday and more is likely to follow but, fearful of heaping more pain on the euro zone's stragglers, it will give few clues about when the next move will come.

Portugal's financial sector can expect some relief after the caretaker government decided to seek financial aid after months of what many economists said was a refusal to acknowledge economic reality.

Portugal's caretaker government said on Wednesday it needs financing from the European Union, marking a turnaround after resisting asking for aid for months despite sharply deteriorating financial conditions.

Portugal's caretaker government said on Wednesday it had decided to seek financing from the European Union in an abrupt turnaround after resisting a bailout for months despite sharply deteriorating financial conditions.

Portugal will need a bailout, said outgoing Finance Minister Fernando Teixeira dos Santos to Jornal de Negocios, a Portuguese business publication.

Portugal's caretaker government said on Wednesday it had decided to seek financing from the European Union in an abrupt turnaround after resisting a bailout for months despite sharply deteriorating financial conditions.

Portugal's caretaker government said on Wednesday it needs financing from the European Union, marking a turnaround after resisting asking for aid for months despite sharply deteriorating financial conditions.

Portugal's caretaker government, fighting to avoid a bailout, said on Wednesday a political crisis had caused irreparable damage after borrowing costs rocketed as it sold a billion euros in short-term debt.

Debt-stricken Portugal managed to sell a billion euros in short-term debt on Wednesday but the yields rose sharply, intensifying pressure from local lenders and ratings agencies to seek a bailout.

The price of Gold reached new record highs vs. the Dollar on Wednesday in London, breaching $1460 per ounce as world stock markets also kept rising together with commodities and higher-yielding currencies.

FOMC Meeting Minutes March 2011

Credit rating agency Moody's cut Portugal's sovereign debt by one notch on Tuesday, saying it believed an incoming government would need to seek financing support from the European Union as a matter of urgency.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Tuesday after China, a main source of global growth, raised its interest rates, while Apple shares fell after the stock's weight in a widely followed index was cut.

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Monday as gains from materials and health care sector shares were offset by declines from technology and financials.