World stocks rose on the first trading day of the year after a dismal 2008, while the dollar gained. Crude oil and metal prices fell, as did government bonds.

World stock markets closed out the year on Wednesday with some having registered their worst annual losses in history, although December looked set to end on a rare up note and there was some optimism about 2009.

Asian stocks rose for a fifth straight day on Monday on hopes policy efforts to dampen the impact of the financial crisis would ultimately take hold, though data still painted an ugly picture of the global economy.

Most Asian shares fell on Friday as concerns over the global economy and caution ahead of a Bank of Japan rate decision halted a powerful three-day rally, sending safer havens such as regional bonds and the yen higher.

European shares are set to open strongly on Thursday, according to financial bookmakers, tracking sharp rise in Asian markets as commodity prices gained and the yen weakened after the Federal Reserve cut interest rates.

Asian stocks were set for a record rise and a third straight day of gains on Thursday as lower borrowing costs and international efforts to provide liquidity to emerging markets coaxed investors from safe havens like the yen.

European shares are set to open sharply higher on Wednesday, tracking rally in U.S. stocks on hopes that central banks worldwide would further cut interest rates.

Most Asian stock markets and government bonds rose on Wednesday, on hopes the Bank of Japan and the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates this week in a bid to spur economic growth, while credit markets showed further signs of recovery.

The FTSE 100 is seen opening down as much as 1.3 percent by financial bookmakers on Tuesday after closing 0.8 percent lower the previous session in highly volatile trade.

Britain's FTSE 100 .FTSE index is seen opening down as much as 2 percent on Monday, according to financial bookmakers, tracking weakness in Asia as worries over a deep economic slowdown extend the previous session's sharp losses. British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has hinted at the possib...

Japanese stocks tumbled to 26-year lows on Monday and most other Asian markets fell heavily in chaotic trade as investors feared a flurry of central bank moves would not be enough to stave off a global recession.

European equity indexes were seen opening down as much as 2.2 percent on Friday following heavy falls in Asia as gloom on the global economy deepens.

Asian stocks slumped on Friday, led by a 7 percent drop in South Korean shares, as the global economic slowdown and emerging market instability hurt an array of corporate outlooks, pushing up government bonds and the yen.

Asian stocks fell to a 4-year low on Thursday on growing fears a global recession would depress corporate earnings, while the dollar rose to a 2-year high against the euro, underpinned by the unwinding of risky trades.

The leading share index tracked weakness in the U.S. and Asian markets, falling 2 percent early on Wednesday, led by banks and commodity stocks as worries intensified over corporate earnings.

Oil fell below $70 a barrel on Wednesday, pressured by a gloomy outlook for the global economy that could limit the impact of any supply cuts OPEC might agree at a meeting on Friday.

Stock markets around the world fell sharply again on Wednesday after concerns about economic recession and falling commodity prices were fuelled by a fresh spate of gloomy corporate earnings.

Asian stocks slumped to their lowest since December 2004 on Wednesday as poor U.S. corporate results and falling commodity prices fanned worries of a protracted global economic slowdown.

Financial bookmakers expected the leading European benchmark indexes to rise early on Tuesday, gaining ground for the third session in a row on signs that bold moves to thaw the credit freeze were starting to work.