FT.com - European equities were firmer on Friday as energy stocks led the way after a spike in oil prices, while merger activity continued to provide much of the focus.

FT.com - London equities moved higher in opening trade on Friday, supported by oil majors after an overnight spike in crude prices on concern of gasoline supply shortages in the US.

AFP - Indian software giant Infosys on Friday posted a higher-than-expected 70 percent jump in fiscal fourth-quarter net income but forecast growth to slow sharply in the year ahead.

Reuters - Infosys Technologies Ltd., India's No.2 software exporter, beat expectations with a 70 percent jump in quarterly profit, on higher fees and overseas contracts, but forecast more modest earnings growth this year.

AFP - South Korea's Samsung Electronics on Friday said net profit during the three months to March fell 15 percent from a year earlier due to weak chip prices.

AP - U.S. stocks tilted toward a flat opening Friday as investors remained cautious ahead of inflation data and next week's corporate earnings reports.

Reuters - Stock futures pointed to a flat market open on Friday as economic bellwether General Electric Co. reported a rise in profit that met Wall Street's expectations, while investors braced for inflation data due before the opening bell.

FT.com - London equities moved higher in midday trade on Friday, supported by oil majors after an overnight spike in crude prices on concern of gasoline supply shortages in the US.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets rose on Friday, with the energy sector lifted by higher crude oil prices.

AP - General Electric Co. on Friday reported first-quarter earnings of $4.5 billion, up 2 percent from the same period in 2006.

AP - Wall Street waffled Friday as a slide in consumer confidence heightened investor concerns about the economy but the government's wholesale inflation report eased some fears of higher interest rates.

AP - General Electric Co. posted first-quarter earnings of $4.5 billion Friday, up 2 percent from the same period in 2006, helped by rising infrastructure sales.

AP - Wall Street waffled Friday as a slide in consumer confidence heightened investor concerns about the economy but the government's wholesale inflation report eased some fears of higher interest rates.

FT.com - London equities enjoyed a strong performance on Friday with the FTSE closing at its highest level since November 2000, supported by gains in the oil sector as crude prices moved higher.

AP - Stocks were mixed on Friday, as a slide in consumer confidence heightened investor concerns about the economy but the government's wholesale inflation report eased some fears of higher interest rates.

Reuters - U.S. stocks were little changed on Friday as signs of eroding consumer confidence offset optimism about a possible buyout of student-loan company Sallie Mae and positive earnings news.

AP - McDonald's Corp. on Friday reported stronger-than-expected March sales and possibly its best month ever in Europe, results it said will propel first-quarter earnings well above Wall Street estimates. Its stock jumped to the highest level since 1999.

Reuters - Stocks advanced on Friday, boosted by higher profit outlooks from drug maker Merck & Co. and restaurant chain McDonald's Corp. .

AP - Stocks were mostly higher Friday as investors traded optimistically ahead of next week's rush of earnings releases after a government report on wholesale inflation eased some fears of higher interest rates.

FT.com - European and UK stock markets closed at their highest levels for six years on Friday as renewed optimism about global growth helped them cement a recovery from heavy losses at the end of February.

AP - After nearly four years of stratospheric profit growth for Standard & Poor's 500 companies, investors are about to see earnings come back down to earth.

AP - Wall Street closed out a bumpy week with a moderate gain Friday as investors, heartened by new inflation data, bought optimistically ahead of next week's rush of earnings releases. The Dow Jones industrials had their 10th advance in 11 sessions, and all the major indexes closed out the week higher.

Reuters - U.S. stocks advanced on Friday, boosted by stronger profit outlooks from drug maker Merck & Co. and fast-food restaurant chain McDonald's Corp. .

FT.com - The FTSE 100 hit a six-year high on Friday, underlining the resilience of global equities markets.

AP - Wall Street closed out a bumpy week with a moderate gain Friday as investors, heartened by new inflation data, bought optimistically ahead of next week's rush of earnings releases. The Dow Jones industrials had their 11th advance in 12 sessions, and all the major indexes closed out the week higher.

Reuters - Next week could be make-or-break time for Wall Street's push to recover from the market's slide in late February, with earnings due from bellwethers such as Citigroup Inc. and the release of the Consumer Price Index.

AFP - Wall Street has been able to shake off worries about a slowing US economy, and has inched closer to a blue-chip record high as the market enters the heart of the corporate earnings season.