FALL

U.S. stocks fell on Friday as declines in industrials, energy shares and some tech companies overshadowed strong earnings from Microsoft Corp .

American Express Co posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings on Thursday as the credit card company trimmed costs, consumer spending declined at a slower pace and credit losses were lower than forecasts.

The S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell on Thursday as worse-than-expected jobless claims offset generally positive earnings reports.

Disappointing results from telecom equipment heavyweight Ericsson (ERICb.ST) and profit-taking after a recent strong run helped send European shares lower around midday on Thursday.

Asian shares fell on Thursday amid disappointment that robust Chinese growth data offered few surprises, but the dollar gained some respite as an expected shift to higher-yielding currencies failed to materialize.

Infrastructure software maker Citrix Systems Inc posted quarterly profit that marginally beat estimates, but revenue from its key segment fell 8 percent, dragging its shares down 5 percent.

U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday, hurt by a late sell-off in financial shares after an influential bank analyst recommended selling Wells Fargo shares and a wider-than-expected loss from Boeing disappointed investors.

Electronic trading services provider Knight Capital Group Inc's quarterly profit fell short of expectations, as its trading income took a hit from lower market volatility and higher regulatory transaction fees, sending its shares down 18 percent.

Eli Lilly and Co posted third-quarter profit well above Wall Street expectations on Wednesday on strong performance of its major prescription drugs and lower taxes, but it said an inventory benefit that helped results might reverse in the fourth quarter.

TCF Financial Corp reported a 42 percent drop in quarterly profit that missed market expectations, hurt by a higher provision for credit losses.

Recent trading patterns broke at least temporarily on Wednesday with both the dollar and world stocks slipping, the latter weakened particularly by falling emerging markets.

Sherwin-Williams Covposted a quarterly profit that beat Wall Street estimates on lower interest expense and cost savings, but shares fell 6 percent on the paint maker's disappointing fourth-quarter earnings outlook.

European shares fell in afternoon trading on Tuesday after data showed new construction of U.S. homes rose by less than expected in September.

Qatar is selling 379.2 million shares in British bank Barclays , worth over 1.3 billion pounds ($2.1 billion), the second major Middle East investor set to make a big profit by selling down its stake this year.

Toymaker Mattel Inc reported a smaller-than-expected decline in quarterly revenue, helped by gains in its Hot Wheels and American Girl brands as it heads into the crucial holiday shopping season.

European shares turned negative on Friday after earnings results from Bank of America (BAC.N) disappointed investors.

U.S. mortgage foreclosure filings fell for a second straight month in September, but remained near a record high, amid ongoing and sweeping efforts to keep borrowers in their homes, a report released on Thursday showed.

U.S. mortgage foreclosure filings fell for a second straight month in September, but remained near a record high, amid ongoing and sweeping efforts to keep borrowers in their homes, a report released on Thursday showed.

Wall Street was set for a lower open on Thursday after quarterly results from Goldman Sachs Group and Citigroup Inc failed to live up to expectations some investors had for financial sector shares.

Russian oil output will stagnate in 2010 and begin to decline as mature fields lose production capacity and only one new project comes on line, oil analysts at Bernstein Research said on Wednesday.

U.S. consumer prices rose marginally in September and the number of workers filing new claims for jobless insurance hit a nine-month low last week, more proof the economy was healing after a protracted recession.