FALL

Financial markets kicked off September in a cautious mood on Thursday with European stocks lower and world equities struggling to keep up what would be a five-day winning streak.

After a summer filled with superheroes, apes running amok and trash-talking comedians, Hollywood's upcoming fall movies focus less on effects-filled blockbusters and more on performance-driven films.

World stocks rose for the fourth session in a row on Wednesday on hopes the U.S. Federal Reserve will ride to the economy's rescue with another stimulus package, though global shares were still set to post their biggest monthly drop in 15 months.

The Obama Administration on Tuesday replaced two senior officials who helped to oversee a troubled federal operation that targeted gun trafficking.

Start-up companies using freemium business models, including Dropbox, SurveyMonkey, Animoto and Eventbrite, are thriving as the cost of computing power and storage falls.

Gold regained strength on Tuesday as bargain hunting resurfaced after prices dropped more than 2 percent in the previous session, but higher equities and easing worries about recession in the United States could limit gains.

U.S. stocks fell on Thursday after a sharp drop in European equities ignited by rumors of a short-selling ban in Germany swept away early euphoria from Warren Buffett's investment in Bank of America.

Shares of Apple Inc fell more than 4 percent in pre-market trading on Thursday, a day after its iconic CEO Steve Jobs resigned, leaving right-hand man Tim Cook to take on the mantle.

U.S. shares were set to fall Wednesday, giving up some of the hefty gains of the previous session, which were based on hopes that Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will announce measures to stimulate the economy

Asian shares fell on Wednesday as a rally fueled by speculation that the Federal Reserve may signal further moves to support the struggling U.S. economy swiftly petered out, while gold rebounded from its sharpest one-day slide in 18 months.

Several major banks cut sharply their oil price forecasts on Tuesday, with Citigroup saying that even if the United States printed more money, oil would stay depressed by weak economic growth and fresh supplies from Libya.

Sales of new U.S. homes in July fell to its lowest level in five months, indicating that the housing sector is still on rocky footing after the housing bubble burst several years ago.

Factory output in the U.S. central Atlantic region contracted again this month and new home sales fell to a five-month low in July, adding to signs of a weak second-half economic expansion at best.

New single-family home sales fell more than expected in July to hit a five month low and the prior month's pace was revised down, though the supply of homes available on the market dropped to a record low.

Each year, more than 5,000 American children end up in the hospital after falling out of windows, medical records show.

Bank of America Corp (BAC.N) shares fell nearly 8 percent on Monday, reaching their lowest level since March 2009, as investors fretted the bank may need to raise some $50 billion of capital and worried about potential additional mortgage lawsuit payouts.

Shares of Macau casino operators slumped on Monday on worries of weakening demand from wealthy Chinese consumers, the main players in the world's largest gambling market, leading investors to sell stocks that have hit record highs in the past few months.

Libyans around the world, in places such as Greece, Turkey and Sudan, celebrated the arrival of rebels in Tripoli over the weekend.

Former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman praised the ouster of Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi even though he has been a vocal critic of U.S. intervention in the country.

Moammar Gadhafi's regime will fall within 10 days, but Gadhafi will not surrender, Libya's former prime minister predicted on Monday.

Bank of America Corp shares fell as much as 6.6 percent on Monday, reaching their lowest level in two weeks, as investors fretted about the bank facing additional legal liabilities over mortgages.