NIKKEI 225

World stocks eased on Friday on a worsening outlook for the U.S. economy that also pushed the dollar to 7-month low against the yen and near a 2-month trough versus the euro.

Global oil prices remained under $77 in highly volatile Asian trade as equity markets fell across the region while concerns over potential storms on the east coast of US helped the black gold. Light sweet crude for August delivery was seen trading at $ 76.71 a barrel at 11.30 a.m Singapore time while ICE Brent for September, the front-month contract after August expired on Thursday, gained 1 cent to $76.10 on the Comex.

The dollar hovered near a 2- month low and the Nikkei slumped amid weak Asian stock markets as the outlook for the U.S. economic recovery worsened.

Asian stocks rose to a three-week high on Wednesday, led by gains in technology issues after Intel's results beat market expectations, while the euro held firm near two-month peaks against a softer U.S. dollar.

Chinese stocks fell 2 percent on Tuesday on reports that Beijing will not relax tougher property measures any time soon, weighing on the Australian dollar and curbing early gains in Asian shares.

Asian stocks rose on Monday as investors counted on the start of the U.S. earnings season this week to show firms were reaping strong profits and that the world's economic recovery was not losing steam.

Japanese shares rose and the yen largely held its ground in early trade on Monday, with investors seemingly indifferent to a major election loss suffered by Japan's government over the weekend.

Gold edged up to near $1,200 an ounce on Friday as bargain buying helped offset selling from speculators, who had shifted some of their money to equities on hopes of an economic recovery. Dealers saw purchases from jewelers and other physical buyers across Asia, keeping premiums for gold bars steady. The electronics sector in Japan was on the sidelines, but bargain hunters snapped up platinum.

Asian stocks rallied for a second day and the euro held near two-month highs on Friday, supported on positive U.S. data and after the European Central Bank's offered upbeat view of the euro zone's recovery.

Gold prices extended gains in Asian trade Thursday mainly on increased physical buying, a firmer euro against the dollar and also on rising stocks. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $ 1204.48 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time after dropped as low as $1185 on Wednesday.

Gold rose to hold above $1,200 an ounce on Thursday on steady purchases from jewelers and other physical buyers after a recent drop to a six-week low, while sentiment was also lifted by gains in equities markets.

The euro surged to a two-month high and Asian stocks were set for their best gains in over two weeks on Thursday after a bullish company forecast fuelled optimism about the coming U.S. earnings season and underpinned a slow return by investors to riskier assets.

The euro surged to a two-month high and Asian stocks were set for their best gains in over two weeks on Thursday after a bullish company forecast fueled optimism about the coming U.S. earnings season and underpinned a slow return by investors to riskier assets.

The euro surged to a two-month high and Asian stocks climbed to their highest in more than a week on Thursday after a bullish forecast fueled optimism about the coming U.S. earnings season and underpinned growing tolerance for risk.

The euro surged to a two-month high and Asian stocks climbed to their highest in more than a week on Thursday after a bullish forecast fueled optimism about the coming U.S. earnings season and underpinned growing tolerance for risk.

Stock index futures fell on Wednesday, following global equity markets lower, as fears of a slowdown in the world economy persisted.

Stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Wall Street on Wednesday after the previous session's tepid gains, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.2 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.3 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures down 0.4 percent at 4 a.m. EDT.

Asian stocks fell on Wednesday as investors worried global growth was faltering, while the euro held near a 7-week high as investors pared long positions in the dollar on doubts about the resiliency of the U.S. recovery.

Asian stocks slipped on Wednesday as investors worried global growth was faltering, while the euro hovered near a 7-week high as investors shunned long positions in the dollar.

Asian stocks fell on Wednesday as investors worried global growth was faltering, while the euro held near a 7-week high as investors pared long positions in the dollar on doubts about the resiliency of the U.S. recovery.

World stocks bounced higher on Tuesday from a recent five-week low in a broad risk rally that boosted oil prices, while investors sold off the dollar and government bonds.