MARKETS / FINANCE

The Dow and S&P 500 broke record highs Friday, driven by the largest jobs gains the U.S. economy has seen in nearly 3 years.

The gain is over the average 228,000 jobs added monthly since January, though the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.8 percent.

On Friday, India kicks off a fresh effort at selling the government's stakes in companies across sectors.

November's jobs data are expected to show continued hiring, but a slowdown that could raise wages is around the corner, economists say.

The Dow and S&P 500 Index fell on Thursday after ECB President Mario Draghi warned falling oil prices would have mixed impact on the eurozone.

Expectations of more stimulus from other global central banks was also lifting markets.

ECB President Mario Draghi will present updated forecasts from the bank's staff for growth in output as well as inflation.

Tax experts cautioned however that the move would be difficult to enforce unilaterally.

The pay package, which drew lukewarm approval from shareholders, puts Nadella among the highest paid CEOs in the U.S.

The Dow and S&P 500 hit all-time highs on Wednesday, driven by the Fed's better-than-expected Beige Book report.

The U.S. Federal Reserve’s “Beige Book” revealed that plunging oil prices over the last six months are starting to have negative effects in regions that operate heavily within the energy industry as well as chemical manufacturers.

Crude inventories are used by oil traders to measure the amount of oil currently stored for future use.

Osborne will stress he is determined to fix the public finances in the coming years in a half-yearly update on the budget.

Big auto sales numbers last month -- the best in more than a decade -- helped the blue chip stock index set two records.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Index edged higher on Tuesday, driven by strong construction spending and auto sales.

Lower crude oil prices are good for U.S. consumers and bad for oil services firms as well as some oil-producing nations.

Northern Ireland has lobbied London to allow it to cut its corporate tax rate to better compete for jobs with Dublin.

Analysts said the cost savings from the combination were higher than expected but would take several years to be achieved.

The growing reservations about Japan come at an awkward time for Abe as he has called an election on Dec. 14.

Russia accused NATO on Monday of destabilizing northern Europe and the Baltics by carrying out drills there and announced new military exercises of its own, increasing tension over the Ukraine crisis.

This comes as Prime Minister Shinzo Abe tries to save his "Abenomics" policy with a parliamentary election.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 Index dipped on Monday, driven by losses following Japan's credit downgrade.

Club Med’s stock has risen significantly since the bidding war began in May 2013.

The downgrade comes less than two weeks before Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe seeks re-election at a snap poll.

The Co-op bank is thought to have acknowledged that it has insufficient buffers to withstand a very severe recession.

A Reuters poll had expected manufacturing activity to lose some steam and predicted the index would fall to 51.2.

Many traders expect the ECB may signal further action later this week to ward off deflation.

The official Purchasing Managers' Index still indicated a modest expansion in activity but below forecasts.

The referendums reflect a growing public view that Switzerland is under siege from foreign workers eroding its Alpine culture.