MARKETS / FINANCE

Pope Benedict Wednesday urged Israeli and Palestinian leaders to make "courageous decisions" to end the Gaza conflict, saying it risked spilling over into the rest of the Middle East.

Investment banks will continue to swing the ax in the years ahead.

The Kingdom of Spain is increasingly resorting to off-the-cuff ideas meant to somehow push against the national economy’s death spiral.

The demand for the precious metal by industry is expected rise following a two-year slump.

Gold prices will likely average $1,925 an ounce in the fourth quarter of 2013.

China, whose public support for the Palestinians has been a key characteristic of its policy in the Middle East, Wednesday said it would host an envoy of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to discuss the crisis in Gaza.

Nokia Corp, Pluristem Therapeutics, New Oriental Education, SAP AG, Dynavax Technologies, LG Display Co, Sanofi SA and BHP Billiton are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Wednesday.

News that India executed Ajmal Kasab, the surviving gunman behind the Mumbai terror attacks, came as a shock due to the surreptitious nature of his hanging.

The U.S. stock index futures point to a lower open Wednesday ahead of the Labor Department's weekly jobless claims data.

Asian stock markets were mixed Wednesday as renewed concerns over euro zone crisis and U.S. fiscal cliff fears weighed on the sentiment.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Tuesday were Amira Nature Foods, Safe Bulkers, Novartis AG, Chipotle Mexican Grill and Express, Inc. The top after-market NYSE losers were Tilly's, Inc, Zale Corp, Vipshop Holdings, Harbinger Group and Standard Pacific Corp.

The chairman sputtered and equivocated in trying to explain what the Fed could do to get banks lending again.

With capital gains expected to be taxed at 20 cents on the dollar next year, shareholders are set for big dividends this year.

Hewlett-Packard has been been plagued for years with intrigue and firings more akin to the old “Dallas” TV show, than Silicon Valley.

Keen to broker a truce between Hamas and Israel, Egypt is making some bold proclamations on the prospect of peace.

The head of the U.S. central bank used a New York speech to explain the Federal Reserve's policies and priorities.

The head of the world's most powerful central bank offered support for a two-step approach to the "fiscal cliff."

The UK government has spent $162 million to improve Nigerian schools, and plans to spend more than $200 million over the next seven years.

Intel Corp. (Nasdaq: INTC) acknowledged it needs new blood to move to the mobile era. That's why CEO Paul Otellini will retire.

The highest court in the land ruled that a local imam had an "ulterior motive" for accusing a girl of desecrating the Quran: drumming up anger against Christians.

London jurors convict former UBS senior trader in $2.3 billion losses incurred from 2008 to 2011.

After a call by various protest groups in Madrid, citizens across the municipality turned their uncollected bags of refuse into symbols of protests.

A blog from the New York Fed's Research and Statistics Group says the big output drop from the recession isn't cutting wages as much as would be expected.

Sturm, Ruger & Co, Research In Motion, AK Steel Holding Corp, ARM Holdings, Cliffs Natural Resources, Deutsche Bank AG, ArcelorMittal and Frontline Ltd. are among the companies whose shares are moving in pre-market trading Tuesday.

U.S. President Barack Obama, in his first meeting with China’s outgoing Premier Wen Jiabao since the presidential election, overlooked the maritime disputes between the Southeast and East Asian nations and instead laid the emphasis on establishing clear rules for trade and investment between the U.S. and China.

Four men were arrested on charges of plotting to kill Americans overseas and bombing public buildings by engaging in jihad, FBI officials said Monday.

Asian stock markets mostly advanced Tuesday as sentiment turned positive overnight on hopes that U.S. lawmakers will soon arrive at a consensus to avoid the "fiscal cliff.”

The U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open Tuesday ahead of the Census Bureau’s data on housing starts and building permits.

The top after-market NYSE gainers Monday were Krispy Kreme, Qihoo 360, Sturm, Ruger & Co, Northern Tier and AmeriGas Partners. The top after-market NYSE losers were Celanese Corp, Atlas Resource, NeoPhotonics, SandRidge Energy and Ann Inc.