Stock index futures fell on Friday as the recent sell-off stemming from the euro-zone debt crisis and U.S. financial regulation has ruptured investor confidence, causing a flight from risky assets.
S&P 500 index June futures contracts fell on Friday below 1,060, the lowest level hit during the still unexplained market plunge on May 6, which some analysts see as technical support level.
The Senate approved a sweeping Wall Street reform bill on Thursday night, capping months of wrangling over the biggest overhaul of financial regulation since the 1930s.
Corrects paragraph four to read wage freeze, not hike
Opel Chief Executive Nick Reilly and labor leader Klaus Franz have called a joint press conference for 1200 GMT to inform on significant progress in the restructuring of Opel, the carmaker said on Friday.
The Bank of Japan raised its outlook for the economy Friday, citing signs of sustained recovery in domestic demand, but also warned that Europe's debt debacle posed a risk to the global economy.
Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1165.41 an ounce at 11.30 a.m Singapore time while US gold futures for June delivery was at $1171.84 an ounce. Equity markets across Asia fell Friday with Japan's benchmark Nikkei average sliding more than 3 percent and hitting a five-month low as exporters were hurt after the yen strengthened against the euro on worries about disunity among euro zone leaders on how to address the region's debt crisis.
The Bank of Japan raised its outlook for the economy by a notch on Friday and announced a loan scheme targeting growth industries, but also warned that Europe's debt debacle posed a risk to the global economy.
Toyota Motor Corp said it would take a $50 million stake in U.S. electric carmaker Tesla Motors, a move that gives the Japanese automaker a chance to repair its dented public image and vaults the California start-up on to the world stage.
Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Friday, following the previous session's steep sell-off, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.4 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.29 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.15 percent at 0800 GMT (4 a.m. ET).
Stocks slid further around the world on Friday on fears Europe's debt crisis and tougher financial regulation will hurt a global economic recovery, as Germany prepared to vote on a massive standby package to stabilize the euro.
Abbott Laboratories Inc agreed to acquire India's Piramal Healthcare's healthcare solutions business for an up-front payment of $2.12 billion, in a deal it said would make it the largest pharmaceuticals company in India.
Good morning dear traders, EURUSD kept its strength and did not leave the morning range until 6:27 GMT when news of the FED according to EU policy and bad news from Wallstreet were published.
Dell Inc's quarterly sales and profit beat expectations but its gross margin fell short of analysts' forecasts and the computer maker warned that components supply will remain tight.
Web search king Google Inc on Thursday showed off a risky attempt to marry the Web to television and reach the $70 billion TV advertising market, chasing a dream that has eluded even archrival Apple Inc.
Asian stock markets slid on Friday as worries about the euro zone and the flare-up in market volatility prompted investors to sell shares and keep cash until calm returns.
U.S. oil prices dropped to near $70 on Friday, after falling the previous day for a seventh time in eight sessions, on unabated fears that Europe's debt crisis could hurt global economic growth and slow energy demand.
Germany is poised to approve on Friday the lion's share of a $1 trillion safety net for financially troubled euro zone nations as an EU task force looks to toughen regulations within the bloc blighted by a debt crisis that has cast a pall over global economic health.
Dell Inc's quarterly sales and profit beat expectations but its gross margin fell short of analysts' forecasts and the computer maker warned that components supply will remain tight.
Chrysler will probably launch its public offering in 2011 and expects that 2010 will be a better year than it originally had forecast, the company's chief executive said on Thursday.
France and Germany pledged on Thursday to work together to solve a European debt crisis and support the euro, patching up a public rift that had rattled markets around the world.
With U.S. Senate passage on Thursday of a landmark bill to crack down on Wall Street, lawmakers must resolve differences between that measure and one approved in December by the House of Representatives.
