Bullish Blog

AP - Asian stock markets rose Thursday as signs of growing strength at powerhouse economies China and Japan brightened the outlook for the world recovery.

AP - Stronger reports on jobs and manufacturing boosted stocks Thursday ahead of the government’s March employment report.

Reuters - The TSX ended little changed on Wednesday, as weak banking shares offset stronger resource issues, limiting its gains for the month and latest quarter.

AP - Stocks that moved substantially or traded heavily Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq Stock Market:

AP - Stocks fell on the final day of the first quarter after a payroll company’s report gave investors a surprising reminder that the job market remains weak. Despite a moderate drop Wednesday, the Dow Jones industrial average logged its best first quarter since 1999 and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index posted its strongest first-quarter advance since 1998.

U.S. News & World Report - Last week, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission announced that it will begin evaluating the use of derivatives by mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. A derivative is essentially a security whose price is derived from one or more underlying assets, and the term is used to describe a range of activities including futures trading and default swaps. The SEC says that until the investigation has concluded, it will defer any new requests for ETFs that would make substantial investments in derivatives. …

Reuters - U.S. securities regulators will meet April 7 to consider new disclosures for asset-backed securities such as those linked to mortgages, the Securities and Exchange Commission said on its web site.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Wednesday as a report showing a surprising drop in private- sector employment stoked concerns about the health of the labor market two days before the government’s key jobs data.

AFP - Stock markets in the energy-rich Gulf region on Wednesday ended the first quarter higher on the back of strong oil prices and signs of global economic recovery.

AFP - Shares in London rose in late morning trade on Wednesday, the last day of the first quarter, as traders eyed the Easter holiday weekend and upcoming US jobs data.