NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stock investors will return to a tug of war between signs of domestic strength and overseas concerns next week as a batch of critical earnings reports look to add credence to the idea the economy is improving, while credit rating downgrades in Europe will keep that region’s difficulties in view. Bank stocks will probably once again be a primary focus, as not only will European issues call the group’s …

NEW YORK – U.S. stock futures are falling Wednesday morning with markets in Europe give up earlier gains. The European Central Bank on Wednesday loaned a record amount to the continent’s banks in an effort to bolster Europe’s stressed financial system. That initially lifted markets in Germany, France and London, but stocks in those countries are now showing losses of as much as 0.5 percent. Less than two hours before trading opens in …

NEW YORK – The bond market is said to be populated with worried, glass-half-empty types. And Pimco, the world’s largest bond fund manager, is never shy about making the big picture look pretty bleak. The thing is, they keep getting it right. Not long after the financial crisis hit in 2008, Pimco laid out a gloomy forecast for the years to come. Debt piled up over the boom years would drag down the …

BANGKOK – Asian stocks fell Thursday as hopes faded that a bold solution might be found to a crippling debt crisis that is threatening to drag Europe into a deep recession. Benchmark oil rose above $ 100 per barrel while the dollar fell against the euro and the yen. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.6 percent to 8,670.82, dragged down by weaker-than-expected machinery orders. South Korea’s Kospi lost 0.3 percent to 1,913.69 and Hong …

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks rose on Monday but were off their highs after a report that Germany and other European nations with top credit ratings could be downgraded shook some of the recent optimism about the euro zone’s outlook. S&P was poised to announce later on Monday that the credit ratings of Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Finland and Luxembourg would be “credit watch negative,” according to a Financial Times report. “It’s more …

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stocks mostly rose for a second straight day on Tuesday as a rebound in consumer confidence and soothed fears over Europe whetted investors’ appetite for risky assets. In a positive sign for the euro zone, Italian bond yields fell from session highs, though they were still at record high rates. In the auction, Italy’s government sold 7.5 billion euros of three- and 10-year bonds, close to the upper end …

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. investors came to the Thanksgiving holiday table on Thursday mostly thankful that the week was a short one, or losses could have been larger. As another round of news and bond auctions from Europe begins next week, traders will watch closely sovereign bond yields that have kept markets on edge. Yields rose in almost every euro-zone country this week, and Germany failed to find enough bids for a …

TORONTO (Reuters) – Toronto’s main stock index fell to a seven-week low on Thursday as resource-related issues slid after a meeting of European leaders failed to stem market fears about the euro zone debt crisis. Energy and materials were the main drags on the index, each falling nearly 1 percent, as oil and gas producers and gold miners were hit by fears of a slowdown in Europe. Enbridge Inc fell 2.8 percent to …

Europe’s spreading debt woes and slower manufacturing in China pushed stocks sharply lower Wednesday. The Dow Jones industrial average fell 180 points in midday trading. Traders worldwide were spooked by an auction of German debt that drew too few bids to sell all of the 10-year notes being offered. Germany has Europe’s strongest economy, and traders have bought its debt as a safe place to store value during turbulent times. The weak buying …

BANGKOK – Asian stock markets fell Monday as a change of government in debt-laden Spain and warnings from Asian officials of a sharp growth slowdown underlined the challenges facing the world economy. Benchmark crude fell below $ 98 per barrel and the dollar slipped against the euro and the yen. Japan’s Nikkei 225 index fell 0.2 percent to 8,359.68 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was 1.8 percent lower at 18,152.99. South Korea’s Kospi …