PORTUGAL

Gold hit its second new record high on the trot at the London Gold Fix on Thursday morning, hitting $1441.25 per ounce for US investors as the Dollar held flat on the forex market, and US crude oil rose.

Oil prices dropped back on Thursday in a bout of profit-taking as investors paused after a hefty rally on supply worries amid the fighting in Libya and growing unrest in the Middle East.

Principals of The European Union (EU) who are meeting in Brussels to find ways to contain the euro zone debt crisis are dealing with the aftermath of the Portuguese parliament’s decision to reject an austerity budget.

European Central Bank policymakers underscored the case for an April rate hike on Thursday as Portugal's political crisis raised the prospect of another spell of reluctant ECB bond market intervention.

Wall Street was poised for a higher open on Thursday with retail stocks in focus after Best Buy reported higher-than-expected profit, but light trading volume suggested the optimism was limited.

Global stocks rose for a sixth day on Thursday and are now higher than when Japan's earthquake and tsunami struck, buoyed by confidence that the world economic recovery remains on track.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday as investors shifted focus to jobs data later in the morning, temporarily brushing off euro zone debt concerns.

Brent crude see-sawed on Thursday, as concerns about instability in the Middle East were offset by worries about the economic health of the eurozone following the resignation of Portugal's prime minister.

Stock index futures rose on Thursday as investors shifted focus to jobs data later in the morning, temporarily brushing off euro zone debt concerns.

Oil rose on Thursday, as concerns about instability in the Middle East outweighed worries about the economic health of the eurozone following the resignation of Portugal's prime minister.

US stocks defied odds on Wednesday to close slightly positive. The S&P 500 index climbed 3.77 points, or 0.29 percent, to close at 1,297.54. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 67.39 points, or 0.56 percent, to end at 12,086.02. The Nasdaq Composite rose 0.54 percent.

The resignation of Portugal's prime minister will dominate a summit of EU leaders on the European economy on Thursday and Friday, with pressure intense on Lisbon to seek a bailout package.

U.S. stocks were expected to open little changed on Thursday, with futures for the S&P 500, the Dow Jones and the Nasdaq 100 trading flat to 0.1 percent higher.

Political turmoil in Portugal and looming elections in other countries are expected to prevent a summit of European Union leaders this week from taking tough decisions to address the region's debt crisis.

China still sees risks from euro-zone debt problems and has increased its holdings of European government bonds to help the region, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday.

Brent crude fell for a second day on Thursday, shedding as much as 0.4 percent toward $115, after the resignation of Portugal's prime minister rekindled euro-zone concerns, prompting oil traders to unwind long positions and take profits.

Brent crude fell for a second day on Thursday, shedding as much as 0.4 percent toward $115, after the resignation of Portugal's prime minister rekindled euro-zone concerns, prompting oil traders to unwind long positions and take profits.

Brent crude fell for a second day on Thursday, shedding as much as 0.5 percent toward $115, after the resignation of Portugal's prime minister rekindled euro-zone concerns, prompting oil traders to unwind long positions and take profits.

European Union leaders are unlikely to take a decision on how to strengthen the euro zone's bailout fund until June, undermining market confidence and possibly prolonging the region's debt crisis.

U.S. stocks staged an afternoon rally Wednesday, led by materials companies, though investors continued to eye several overseas trouble spots warily.The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 89 points, or 0.7%, to 12108 in late afternoon trade, led by Alcoa, which rose 3.3%. The gains were kept in check by a 1.5% decline for Bank of America, which said the Federal Reserve didn't allow it to boost its dividend. Wal-Mart Stores also was weak, falling 0.8%, as was DuPont, down 0.4%.

U.S. stocks extended their losses on Wednesday after official data showed that sales of single-family houses in the US fell unexpectedly in February.