http://news.yahoo.com/stocks/ Get the latest stock markets news headlines from Yahoo! News. Find breaking stock markets news, including analysis and opinion on top stock markets stories, photos and more.en-USCopyright (c) 2012 Yahoo! Inc. All rights reserved 2012-05-15T14:07:44-04:005 http://news.yahoo.com/stocks/ http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/nws/th/main_142c.gifStandard & Poor’s lowered Chesapeake Energy’s credit rating Tuesday, questioning how quickly the company could remedy its financial woes. http://news.yahoo.com/chesapeakes-credit-downgraded-p-shares-dip-180744257–finance.html 2012-05-15T18:07:44ZAssociated Presschesapeakes-credit-downgraded-p-shares-dip-180744257–financeStandard & Poor’s lowered Chesapeake Energy’s credit rating Tuesday, questioning how quickly the company could …

BANGKOK (AP) — Asian stock markets rose Wednesday after earnings from Apple Inc. and other U.S. companies blew past expectations, providing a distraction from the economic and political turbulence intensifying in Europe over its debt crisis. Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1 percent to 9,562.30 as the yen slipped against the dollar — a movement generally benefiting the country’s exporters. South Korea‘s Kospi index gained 0.4 percent to 1,970.44, helped by improving consumer confidence. …

For the stock market, it was a triumphant first quarter. But for earnings growth, the past three months were just ho-hum. Analysts are expecting earnings for companies in the Standard & Poor’s 500 index to decline 0.1 percent compared to a year ago, according to FactSet. It’s a tiny number but a significant turning point. Earnings growth was on a winning streak for the previous nine quarters. Year-over-year earnings growth has been at …

Asian markets mostly edged lower Wednesday following a slip on Wall Street and on profit-taking after the previous day’s strong showing. While there were few incentives to buy, the lingering concerns over China’s slowing economy continued to play on confidence. Tokyo fell 0.71 percent, or 72.58 points, to 10,182.57 and Seoul slipped 0.39 percent, or 8.02 points, to 2,031.74, but Sydney rose 0.98 percent, or 42.2 points, to 4,343.5. Hong Kong finished 0.77 …

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 …

LONDON – Another set of successful bond auctions in Europe and renewed confidence in the continent’s banks helped markets rally Thursday as investors awaited developments in Greece’s debt-reduction talks with private creditors. The mood has been buoyed by the news that France and Spain easily tapped investors for money and did so at what were largely affordable rates, in spite of last week’s downgrade of their credit ratings by Standard & Poor’s. “Global …

NEW YORK – After wild price swings that left investors bewildered and not a cent richer last year, stocks are rising again, and calm has settled over the market like blue skies after a storm. Or maybe eye of the storm is the better metaphor. “It’s a little too calm,” says the usually unflappable Jim Paulsen of Wells Fargo Management, a bullish stock strategist not easily spooked. “Maybe we’re setting up for a …

PARIS – Another set of solid Italian bond auctions on Friday helped sustain the recent optimism in the markets that Europe’s debt crisis has calmed down somewhat, though investors think there’s still a long way before the situation stabilizes. Surprisingly strong bond auctions in Spain and Italy on Thursday reinforced hopes that policymakers may finally be getting a grip on Europe’s debt crisis after months of procrastination and indecision. With the borrowing rates …

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 …

MILAN – A deal to get the 17 countries that use the euro to tie their economies closer together has got a modest level of support in the markets Friday, even though European Union leaders failed to reach unanimity on the plan. Though the 17 were joined by six other prospective euro members in agreeing a fiscal union, Britain, and three others refused to join in. The 23 countries that are backing closer …