GLOBAL MARKETS

U.S. stock index futures point to a lower opening Thursday after the Department of Labor's initial jobless claims report, which showed that more people than expected filed for unemployment benefits, and the National Association of Realtors' report on existing home sales.

European markets fell Thursday as investors were disappointed the U.S. Federal Reserve failed to announce any quantitative easing measures on Wednesday.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Wednesday were: Skilled Healthcare, VOC Energy, Oriental Financial Group, Alon USA Energy and Kindred Healthcare. The top after-market NYSE losers were: Red Hat, Main Street Capital, Vmware, Apartment Investment & Management and hhgregg.

Most Asian markets fell Thursday as investors felt let down by the U.S. Federal Reserve, which did not announce a further round of quantitative easing.

Asian stocks struggled and commodities fell broadly on Thursday after the Federal Reserve ramped up monetary stimulus by expanding Operation Twist, but disappointed some investors who had been hoping for more aggressive measures.

Biosante Pharmaceuticals Inc., Tesla Motors Inc., Barclays PLC, Bank of America Corp., Adobe Systems Inc., Michael Kors Holdings Ltd and Procter & Gamble Co. are among the companies whose shares moved in pre-market trading Wednesday.

U.S. stock index futures point to a mixed opening Wednesday ahead of economists' expectations that the Fed will announce an extension of its 'Operation Twist' monetary policy designed to boost the economy.

European markets fell Wednesday as investors remained watchful ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve's announcement of the monetary policy decision.

Asian stock markets advanced Wednesday on expectations that the major central banks around the world would announce further stimulus measures to spur economic growth.

Crude oil futures hovered above $84 a barrel Wednesday amid expectations that the U.S. Federal Reserve may announce additional stimulus measures to spur economic growth.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Tuesday were: La-Z-Boy, Choice Hotels International, Actuant Corp, Jabil Circuit and Helmerich & Payne. The top after-market NYSE losers were: Chimera Investment, Sunstone Hotel Investors, Gerdau, Scorpio Tankers and Qihoo 360 Technology.

Asian markets rose Wednesday amid speculation that the U.S. Fed will announce monetary easing measures to rejuvenate the economy.

U.S. stock index futures signal a mixed opening Tuesday as optimism following the Greek election results fades and Spain's increasing borrowing costs raise investor concerns.

European markets rose Tuesday but investors remained cautious as concerns about the debt crisis looming over the euro zone were revived with increasing borrowing costs of Spain.

Asian markets fell Tuesday as investor concerns on the euro zone debt crisis were revived amid fading optimism after the Greek elections and increasing borrowing costs of Spain.

Crude oil futures declined Tuesday as rising Spanish and Italian bond yields outweighed optimism over the Greek election results.

Stock markets in China and Hong Kong declined Tuesday as renewed concerns over Spain's financial woes offset optimism over the Greek election results.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Monday were: Dana Holding, Alliant Techsystems, Yingli Green Energy Holding, Celanese and Fusion-io. The top after-market NYSE losers were: J.C. Penney, IHS Inc, Western Gas Partners, HCP and Boise Inc.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average fell Tuesday as optimism over the Greek election results subsided and concerns over the financial stability of Spain revived.

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Asian shares slipped on Tuesday as a post-Greek election relief rally quickly ran out of steam, with rising Spanish and Italian bond yields signaling that European leaders still have much to do to contain the euro zone debt crisis.

Futures on the major U.S. indices point to a mixed opening Monday as concerns about the euro zone debt crisis undermined the initial optimism following the Greek elections in which pro-bailout parties won the majority.

European markets rose Monday as investor confidence was rejuvenated following the victory of the pro-austerity parties in Sunday's Greek elections.

Asian markets rose Monday as investors were relieved after the pro-bailout parties won Sunday's elections in Greece.

Crude oil futures gained Monday after pro-bailout parties won a slim majority in Greece's general election over the weekend.

Stock markets in China and Hong Kong gained Monday as sentiment was buoyed after the news that pro-bailout parties in Greece gained sufficient votes to form a government.

Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose Monday as investor concerns were eased following the Greek election in which pro-bailout parties won the majority.

Certain financial-market commentators were -- er, uh -- commentating either early Monday or late Sunday (depending on one's global positioning) about a relief rally in this market or that market allegedly propelled by Greece's election results, which suggest the euro zone will not be falling apart. This week, anyway.

Asian stock markets advanced for the second straight week on expectations that major central banks in the world would act to tackle deteriorating global economic conditions.