Topic: Stock Market

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Friday despite lingering concerns over the euro zone debt crisis in what could otherwise be a light trading day ahead of the Memorial Day weekend.

With concern growing about the future of the euro zone, analysts are now debating ideas that, until recently, were considered unthinkable.  One topic being bandied about is the viability of capital controls. 

European shares erased their earlier gains to turn flat on Friday, as some traders looked to book profits on the back of a two-day rally with fears over Greece still lurking in the background.

Chinese stocks will outperform by five percent over the next three months and investors should look to buy now, Helen Zhu, chief China strategist at Goldman Sachs, told CNBC on Wednesday.

European shares were called to open lower on Friday, ending another dismal week for equities, as investors learned that at least half of the euro zone’s member states are making contingency plans for a Greek exit from the single currency.

Asian shares fell to their lowest levels of the year on Friday as early bargain hunting gave way to worries about Europe's raging debt crisis and weak global growth.

Earlier this month, I asked the leaders of a group of U.S-based companies what – if anything – they were doing to prepare for “Grexit”, or a possible exit of Greece from the euro zone. The responses from the manufacturers were rather vague. The FT reports.

Some of Europe’s biggest fund managers have confirmed they are dumping euro assets amid rising fears over a possible Greek exit from the euro zone and single currency turmoil, the Financial Times reports.

Japan's Nikkei average steadied on Friday, supported by investors buying defensive stocks such as pharmaceuticals and food, as well as battered shares, although the index was poised to extend its run of weekly losses to the longest in 20 years.

The end of a six-decade passion for equities could lead to a less flexible, more conservative model of corporate financing. The FT reports.

Asian shares fell to their lowest levels of the year on Friday as early bargain hunting gave way to worries about Europe's raging debt crisis and weak global growth.

Amid all the challenges facing the markets — Greece, Facebook, JPMorgan — investors face an even larger problem: They soon could be running out of safe havens for their money.

Investors looking for bargains bought stocks, oil and gold after they were battered by worries about Europe's debt crisis.

The euro zone debt crisis will continue to dominate European stocks in 2012, with even well-run companies in danger of being sucked into the morass, according to S&P Capital IQ.

Stocks bounced off their lows to finish mixed in another choppy session Thursday amid ongoing speculation over whether Greece will exit the euro zone.