Obsolete Certainty

Global Markets Overview: Investors are turning very selective about risk, as shares decline while some currency markets embrace chancier assets

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Wall St futures pointed to a firmer start for equities, after gains in Europe. The Dow closed lower in the previous session on weak durable goods data and a downbeat assessment of the economy from the Fed’s Beige Book.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks fell on Wednesday after weak durable goods figures and a downbeat assessment of the economy from the Fed’s Beige Book kept the benchmark S&P 500 trapped below its 200-day moving average.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Stock index futures pointed to a higher open for Wall Street on Wednesday, after stocks closed mixed a day earlier, with investors likely to focus on earnings from Boeing and Visa among others to provide direction for equities.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – The Dow industrials and the S&P 500 eked out slim gains, while the Nasdaq dipped on Tuesday as a sharp drop in July consumer confidence curbed the enthusiasm stirred by more robust earnings.

HONG KONG (Reuters) – Asian stocks pulled back slightly from two-and-a-half month highs hit earlier on Tuesday after upbeat U.S. housing data, while the euro neared 2-month peaks on relief over stress tests on European banks.

NEW YORK (Reuters) – U.S. stocks rose on Monday after an upbeat outlook from FedEx and solid home sales data cheered investors, helping the S&P 500 hold above a key resistance level.

SINGAPORE (Reuters) – The euro edged up and Asian shares rose on Monday as solid U.S. corporate earnings and surprisingly strong euro zone data offset growing skepticism that stress tests on European banks were not strict enough.

German business confidence is soaring while U.S. consumer sentiment sinks.

BP is holding up payments to victims of the Gulf oil spill, the compensation-fund administrator said. Meanwhile, clean-up crews returned to the site of the spill as Tropical Depression Bonnie passed.