A Quick Glance at News

·   Asian stocks advanced for a sixth day, while the U.S. dollar weakened, amid speculation the Federal Reserve will unveil a bond-buying program today. European stock futures were little changed.

·     German backing for Europe’s bailout fund quickened the bargaining over a bond buying program for Spain, testing the resolve of government leaders and the European Central Bank to conquer the debt crisis.

·      France is pressing Spain to snub German concerns and request help from the European Union to contain the euro-area financial crisis, according to three people familiar with negotiations.

·    Asian stocks advanced for a sixth day, while the U.S. dollar weakened, amid speculation the Federal Reserve will unveil a bond-buying program today. European stock futures were little changed.

·      The end of Ben S. Bernanke’s term as Federal Reserve chairman in January 2014 hasn’t stopped investors from betting the central bank will hold the benchmark interest rate close to zero into the following year.

·      The U.S. Federal Reserve appears set to launch a third round of unconventional monetary stimulus on Thursday while signaling that a weak U.S. economy may warrant ultra-low interest rates for at least another three years.

·      Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte's Liberals won a closely contested election, but he faced the prospect of having to form a government with his arch-rivals from the Labour party on Thursday.

·   Apple Inc's new iPhone goes on sale on Friday with a bigger screen and 4G wireless technology, as the company seeks to safeguard its edge over rivals like Samsung Electronics Co Ltd and Google Inc.

·      Brent crude steadied near $116 a barrel on Thursday, after rising for five straight sessions, as traders awaited a U.S. Federal Reserve policy decision that is expected to include further stimulus action to bolster the world's largest economy.

·   Gold was little changed on Thursday with investors awaiting a key Federal Reserve policy decision, a day after a German court ruling in favor of a euro zone rescue fund sent bullion to its highest since the end of February.

·     Groupon Inc shares rose 8 percent on Tuesday after Chief Financial Officer Jason Child told an investor conference that the company is taking steps that will help drive its growth in Europe.