Earnings Report

World stock markets mostly rose Thursday, taking in stride the Federal Reserve's announcement it will end a stimulus program that was as massive as it was controversial.

Global stock markets swung higher Wednesday, cheered by a surge in U.S. stocks that were buoyed by solid earnings, while investors were also waiting for signs from the Federal Reserve on U.S. monetary policy.

Global stocks were mostly higher Tuesday as investors looked ahead to this week's U.S. Federal Reserve meeting.

Global stocks sank Wednesday under the weight of worries about the possible timing of a U.S. rate hike, economic weakness in China and an impending referendum on Scottish independence.

Investors next week will be eyeing the Federal Reserve and earnings reports from Apple and Facebook.

The Dow and S&P 500 will head into Friday's session at record highs, after remarks from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke Wednesday.  Meanwhile, drivers can expect major pains at the pump this summer.

Mortgage giant Freddie Mac reported net income of $4.2 billion for the second quarter, up sharply from the same period of 2014, as it increased its purchases of home loans and sold off greater volumes of riskier mortgages.

Lloyds Banking Group is recommending paying a dividend for the first time since it was rescued by British taxpayers after reporting net income of 1.13 billion pounds ($1.7 billion) compared with a loss in 2013.

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.

Credit Agricole's second-quarter profit was nearly cut in half as the French bank became the first major foreign shareholder to report its loss in Portugal's biggest banking scandal.

___ Across US job market, layoffs are becoming rare WASHINGTON (AP) — The risk of losing your job is getting smaller and smaller.

___ How GM's ignition switch redesign went wrong DETROIT (AP) — General Motors' deadly ignition switch flaws emerged from an effort to improve its cars.

Arkansas' finance office says the state ended the fiscal year with a nearly $79 million budget surplus.

Kansas' June tax revenues fell $28 million short of projections, pushing the shortfall for the fiscal year that ended Monday to nearly $338 million, a state official said.

Freddie Mac said on Thursday it will soon send the U.S. Treasury a $10.4 billion dividend after posting a ninth-straight quarterly profit, putting taxpayers further into the black on their bailout of the mortgage giant.

Lockheed Martin's CFO said he was hopeful 2014 would mark a 'bottoming out' in U.S. military spending, with budget agreements providing a more stable outlook. United Swings to 4Q Profit | Futures Lower Ahead of Data, Earnings | 

Cisco forecast a steep drop in revenue, prompting at least two brokerages to downgrade its stock and 12 to cut their price targets.

A survey of Connecticut businesses released Friday found that nearly two-thirds showed a profit over the past year, but many are considering out-of-state options for expansion.

Global stock markets are steady on Thursday as the decline in China's currency slowed and the country's central bank eased fears of more steep drops.

Shares of Kohl's sank 10 percent Thursday after the department store operator said state sales tax holidays hurt its sales in the second quarter and said back-to-school sales got off to a slow start.