Currencies

In the world of currencies, the dollar is starting to look like a safe home in a tough neighborhood.

Asian stocks fluctuated Friday as investors looked for direction before a key U.S. jobs report later in the day while Japan's market edged higher after the yen fell to a six-year low.

Global stock markets were lackluster Thursday after Wall Street fell and as investors looked ahead to a European Central Bank meeting and U.S. economic data.

Asian stock markets were muted Monday after Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen's speech left investors guessing about the central bank's next move on interest rates.

The central bankers meeting this week at their annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, aren't exactly in sync.

Investors appear to be putting their money on the likelihood of more stimulus measures from the European Central Bank to keep the eurozone's shaky recovery from stalling.

Asian stocks got a slight boost from Wednesday from positive U.S. economic figures that reinforced expectations of eventual Fed rate hikes and a stronger dollar, while European markets drifted lower.

Consensus among policymakers at the Bank of England has been shattered, with two of nine members of the monetary policy committee voting to increase interest rates from a record low of 0.5 percent.

Global stock markets were uninspired by an upbeat report on the U.S. economy, with most drifting lower Thursday after the U.S. Federal Reserve said it would make further cuts to its monetary stimulus as expected.

ECB President Mario Draghi is likely to face questions on what can be done to reduce the value of the euro when he faces lawmakers at the European Parliament later, amid further signs that the recovery in the 18-country eurozone is faltering.

Japan's central bank unleashed a $1.4 trillion, open-ended asset program Thursday as Tokyo looks to jumpstart the economy after decades of stagnation. 

Sometimes, nearly everyone wins.

Emerging Crisis? A full-blown emerging-market crisis would test the new regulations put into place to prevent a banking meltdown.

The handful of Asian stock markets open for trading on the last day of 2014 mostly rose modestly, led by China which is nearing a 52 percent gain for the year.

Asian stock markets rose Monday, led by a 3 percent surge in Japan, as nerves about the outlook for the world economy steadied after big gains on Wall Street.

Asian stock markets were mostly higher Monday after a sixth month of healthy employment growth in the U.S. but gains were tempered by jitters over Argentina's debt default and a Portuguese bank bailout.

___ Microsoft makes design central to its future Before Ralf Groene helped devise the look and feel of Microsoft's Surface tablet, he designed food — or "food concepts," he says, such as dried noodles that come wrapped around a pair of chopsticks and a fork that squeezes out sauce.

Ratings companies have downgraded the Latin American country in recent days, warning of a 'materially higher risk of an economic collapse.' 

Inflation across the 19-country eurozone was revised down to 0.1 percent in the year to August, in a development that's likely to renew fears that the region could see another bout of falling prices.

U.S. stocks opened sharply higher Tuesday after a late rebound in China encouraged traders.