BEIJING – Asian stock markets were mostly lower Thursday, following Europe and Wall Street down amid growing fears the latest deal to resolve Greece’s debts is faltering. Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 index shed 0.2 percent to 9,238.63 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was off 0.8 percent at 21,194.4. Seoul’s Kospi fell 1.1 percent to 2,002.60. Global markets rose briefly Wednesday on news China would keep investing in Europe and Greece would fulfill obligations …

BANGKOK – Asian stock markets rose Wednesday, swayed by a late-day rally on Wall Street, after Greece indicated a willingness to commit to spending cuts demanded by lenders in exchange for a bailout vital to the country’s solvency. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index jumped 1.8 percent to 9,216.62. South Korea’s Kospi gained 0.9 percent to 2,021.07 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index added 1.3 percent to 21,182.38. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index was up 0.3 …

GOOD NEWS FROM GREECE: Another step toward another bailout fueled stock gains in the U.S., with all major indexes rising. GETTING CLOSE: The Dow is now within 16 points of its best close since before the 2008 financial crisis. It has risen 5.4 percent this year. A MILESTONE: Apple crossed $ 500 per share for the first time, closing at $ 502.60. Yahoo! News: Stock Markets News Did you like this? Share it:Tweet

NEW YORK – Investors thinking of buying a piece of Facebook after it goes public are hoping it will perform like Google, whose stock has risen 500 percent since its debut seven and a half years ago. But they may want to spare a thought for companies slightly less exciting — a truck leasing company, perhaps, or a manufacturer of ball bearings. Stocks of those two have left Google, and the investors who …

BAILOUT BLUES: U.S. stocks took their biggest slide so far this year on news that European countries that share the euro with Greece want it to make deeper spending cuts in exchange for bailout money. Stocks had risen just a day before on hopes the bailout was imminent. EVERYONE DOWN: The declines were broad with all ten industry groups in the S&P 500 stock index down. Materials stocks fell the most, 1.8 percent. …

BANGKOK – Asian stock markets dropped Friday after Europe’s finance ministers demanded more spending cuts from Greece before clearing a euro130 billion ($ 170 billion) bailout to stave off the country’s bankruptcy. Benchmark oil hovered below $ 99 per barrel while the dollar rose against the euro but fell against the yen. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.3 percent to 8,978.33. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng lost 0.6 percent to 20,888.68 and South Korea’s …

A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Wednesday: ___ ATHENS, Greece — The political leaders backing Greece’s coalition government have ended their meeting after seven-and-a-half hours without an agreement on the austerity proposals of the so-called “troika” of bailout creditors — the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund. ___ LONDON — Markets were cautious as investors waited for Greek political leaders …

NEW YORK – Stocks are ending higher as Greece appeared close to announcing a deal with creditors to reduce its debt. The Dow Jones industrial average ended at its highest level since May 2008 Tuesday. The Dow rose 33 points to close at 12,878. It hasn’t closed higher since May 2008, before the financial crisis. It had been down as many as 62 points in the first half-hour of trading. The Standard & …

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks edged lower on Monday as a delay by debt-ridden Greece in accepting the terms of a bailout gave investors little reason to buy equities after a five-week rally. Athens allowed another deadline to slip by as political leaders failed to respond to bailout terms from the European Union and International Monetary Fund. Greece needs the funds by March to meet big debt repayments or face a messy default. …

FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Deutsche Boerse’s (DB1Gn.DE) chief executive Reto Francioni should step down following the collapse of its $ 7.4 billion plan to merge with NYSE Euronext (NYX.N), a member of the German exchange operator’s supervisory board told a newspaper. “The question needs to be asked whether there have to be consequences (for management),” Johannes Witt, a board member representing the interests of labour, told German weekly Euro am Sonntag in comments published …