U.S. stock index futures inch higher; News Corp eyed

U.S. stock index futures inch higher; News Corp eyed
* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, halting a three-session retreat, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.04 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.1 percent at 0910 GMT.
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Stocks Decline on $100 Oil; Franc Gains, U.S. Futures Fluctuate

Stocks Decline on $100 Oil; Franc Gains, U.S. Futures Fluctuate
Stocks fell for a second day, led by Persian Gulf markets, after oil traded above $100 a barrel in New York on concern the Mideast unrest will disrupt supplies. The Swiss franc strengthened, and U.S. index futures fluctuated.
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European Stock-Index Futures Climb as Japan Pledges to Buy Region’s Bonds

European Stock-Index Futures Climb as Japan Pledges to Buy Region’s Bonds
European stock-index futures rose, indicating the Stoxx Europe 600 Index may rebound from a two-day retreat, as Japan pledged to buy euro-area bonds, joining China in helping to alleviate the region’s debt crisis. U.S. futures gained and Asian shares fluctuated.
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NewsWatch: Futures edge down after Bank of Japan easing move

NewsWatch: Futures edge down after Bank of Japan easing move
U.S. stock-index futures trade marginally lower on Monday, as traders question whether central banks will be able to prop up the global economy after the Bank of Japan decided to further ease monetary policy.
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U.S. Stock-Index Futures Advance; Alcoa, Freeport, Chevron Shares Increase

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Advance; Alcoa, Freeport, Chevron Shares Increase
U.S. stock-index futures advanced, indicating the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index will pare this week’s retreat, before reports that may show consumer confidence and retail sales rose.
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U.S. Stock-Index Futures Retreat

U.S. Stock-Index Futures Retreat
The S&P 500 was poised to extend Monday’s late selloff, on speculation recent gains have overshot the prospects for economic growth
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Euro, Spanish Bonds Fall; U.S. Futures Drop on FedEx, Housing

Euro, Spanish Bonds Fall; U.S. Futures Drop on FedEx, Housing
The euro weakened and the bonds of Spain, Portugal and Greece fell on concern Europe’s deficits will persist. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was poised to retreat from a four-week high on a lower-than-estimated earnings forecast at FedEx Corp. and a drop in housing starts.
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Bush’s Secretary of Energy, Sam Bodman, is against removing speculators from oil futures; is he correct?

Says that it is purely a supply and demand issue to explain the doubling of prices in a year. By the way, this is from his Bio…
“From there, Secretary Bodman went to Fidelity Venture Associates, a division of the Fidelity Investments. In 1983 he was named President and Chief Operating Officer of Fidelity Investments [...]