Commodities

Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday as a slump in energy prices promised benefits for the region's major economies.

U.S. stocks are rising sharply as investors were encouraged by a burst of hiring last month.

Global stock markets were lower on Thursday amid worries about the strength of U.S. and European recoveries and the first American case of Ebola.

Asian stocks were mixed Wednesday after Wall Street slid and South Korea reported factory output contracted, while markets in China and Hong Kong were closed for a holiday.

A suddenly stormy month on the stock market came to a quiet end on Tuesday.

Global stocks were mostly higher Tuesday after Wall Street declined and pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong, a major financial center, added to political risk worries.

Asian stock markets were mixed Monday as pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong and concern about China's economy offset good U.S. economic news.

Japanese stocks led most Asian benchmarks lower Friday while European stocks drifted in lackluster early trading after Wall Street's worst day since July, as investors awaited the latest economic data on the world's largest economy.

Farmers can start as early as next week on signing up for new safety net programs that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said replaces the much-criticized direct payments with government payouts based on the risks farmers face.

Tokyo stocks led declines in most Asian markets on Friday after Japanese economic data showed that the region's second biggest economy is struggling to recover from a sales tax hike.

Ending insurance discrimination against the sick was a central goal of the nation's health care overhaul, but leading patient groups say that promise is being undermined by new barriers from insurers.

Ending insurance discrimination against the sick was a central goal of the nation's health care overhaul, but leading patient groups say that promise is being undermined by new barriers from insurers.

Fighting around the globe, a euozone debt crisis, earthquakes, and polar vortexes have failed to stop the bulls. Can the bears ever stage a comeback?

Asian stock markets were mostly higher Thursday, with Australia's benchmark leading gains on a crop of healthy earnings reports.

Asia stocks rose Monday as subdued Chinese inflation, a rebound by Japanese markets and the latest easing of tensions over Ukraine helped offset unease about Iraq.

Asian stocks sank Friday as jitters over the crises in Iraq and Ukraine escalated but Chinese stocks rose after trade figures showed surprisingly strong growth in exports.

___ US airfares on the rise, outpacing inflation NEW YORK (AP) — The average roundtrip ticket within the U.S., including taxes, reached $509.15 in the first six months of this year, up nearly $14 from the same period last year.

Asian stock markets were mostly higher Monday, shrugging off jitters about stiffer Western sanctions against Russia, after China reported strong corporate profits.

___

___ Portuguese bank fears rekindle euro market tension LISBON, Portugal (AP) — The specter of Europe's financial crisis is back to haunt investors.