Currencies

Asian stocks were mostly higher Thursday on upbeat corporate earnings and rising Chinese factory output after the chairwoman of the U.S. Federal Reserve said it will be patient about increasing interest rates.

A 30 percent swing in a blink of an eye is not uncommon in the stock market.

A closely monitored survey shows the eurozone economy ended 2014 on a tepid note, raising concerns that the region may slip back into recession this year.

Asian stock markets started 2015 on a positive note Friday as investors waited for cues from new economic data and central bank meetings in coming weeks.

Asian markets were mostly higher Monday after the Fed's pledge not to rush to raise interest rates prompted investors to add risky assets ahead of the year-end holiday.

Russia's suddenly escalating financial crisis risks spilling beyond its borders and endangering parts of the global economy.

Brazil's stock exchange is down, and its currency has fallen against the dollar in the first hours of trading following the country's volatile presidential race in which President Dilma Rousseff won re-election over her centrist, pro-business rival Aecio Neves.

Asian stock markets rose Monday, lifted by another record high on Wall Street and expectations of stimulus in China after its manufacturing growth slowed.

World shares were rattled Thursday by reports the European Union is weighing stiffer financial sanctions against Russia.

The euro has fallen to its lowest level against the dollar this year amid heightened tensions surrounding developments in Ukraine following the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17.

Asian stock markets fell Friday, unnerved by a ratcheting up of global political tensions after a Malaysian jetliner was shot down over Ukraine and Israel launched a ground offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Inflation in the U.K. increased unexpectedly in June, raising expectations that the Bank of England may start raising interest rates soon, possibly by the end of this year.

Asian stocks rebounded Monday from jitters about a struggling Portuguese bank as investors looked ahead to a busy week of data releases in the U.S., China and Europe.

European stock markets rebounded Friday after slumping on worries about the soundness of a bank in Portugal, while trading in Asia was muted over the specter of more financial turmoil in Europe.

The euro tumbled to a two-week low after a plunge in euro zone inflation left markets suddenly eyeing the outside chance of a cut in interest rates.

How much longer can the sun shine on Japan's stock market? The Tokyo Stock Exchange has been among the world's hottest for years and the Nikkei 225 index recently topped the 20,000 level for the first time since 2000.

The world's biggest tech company has paved the way for digital currencies to be transacted on iPhones.

The strong U.S. dollar may temporarily deter some companies from investing in the United States, but the country will continue to attract foreign investment, the Carlyle Group co-chief executive David Rubenstein said on Monday.

The dollar was hoisted to a more than five-year high against the yen Thursday after the Fed started to dial back its massive bond-buying stimulus.

Transactions in the African region are growing at a faster pace than they were three years ago. Experts at Ernst & Young predict the trend will continue as the broader deals market recovers.