It’s takeover Tuesday!

Investors are toasting a massive deal between the two biggest beer brewers in the world, Anheuser-Busch InBev (AHBIF) and SABMiller (SBMRY). It will be one of the biggest acquisitions in corporate history.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Merger mania

The company that makes the popular Budweiser beer -- AB InBev -- has agreed to buy its main rival SABMiller for £68 billion ($104 billion).

The combined firm will be the world's largest beermaker by far, with nine of the world's top 20 beers by volume.

Most SABMiller shareholders are being offered £44 ($67.59) per share in cash. Meanwhile, the two biggest shareholders -- Altria (MO) and Colombia's Santo Domingo family -- will have to accept cash and stock worth roughly £39.03 ($60) per share.

Shares in SABMiller shot up by about 8.5% in London trading, while AB InBev shares are rising by 2.5%.

Watch shares in smaller brewers on Tuesday. Molson Coors (TAP) shares could move on expectations that the company may pick up some beer brands that the new mega-group is forced to sell to get regulatory approval for the merger.

2. Stocks dip down

It looks like the Dow Jones Industrial Average's seven-day winning streak is about to come to an end.

U.S. stock futures are slipping into the red and there's a negative mood in stock markets around the world.

European markets are slipping in early trading, with many indexes down by about 1.5%.

Asian markets mostly ended with losses.

3. Market movers

FMC, Barclays: Shares in the chemical giant FMC Corp (FMC) plunged by nearly 10% in extended trading after announcing that the decline of the Brazilian real will hurt its performance in the second half of 2015.

Shares in Barclays (BCS) in London are falling by about 3% as newspapers report that Jes Staley, a former JPMorgan (JPM)banker, is set to take over as CEO of the British bank within the next two weeks. Barclays had been moving away from investment banking since the financial crisis. It declined to comment on the reports.

4. Quarterly earnings

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is among a handful of companies opening their books before the trading day begins.

After the close, firms including Intel (INTC, Tech30) and JPMorgan Chase (JPM) will report results.

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Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Stock market mover

EMC: Shares in data storage firm EMC Corp (EMC) are rising by about 7% in extended trading based on reports saying Dell is set to announce it will take over the company, which is currently valued above $50 billion.

If the takeover happens, it would be the biggest tech deal ever, and among the top 40 M&A deals of all time.

2. Global markets overview

Stock markets around the world are middling right now. U.S. stock futures are trading around where they left off on Friday.

European markets are vacillating between minor gains and losses.

Asian markets mostly ended with gains. Chinese stock markets were standout stars as the Shanghai Composite jumped 3.3% and the volatile Shenzhen index surged 4.2%.

In Turkey, the main stock market and national currency are roughly stable after two deadly bomb blasts tore through crowds taking part in a peace rally in the capital over the weekend. At least 97 people died in the attack.

3. Weekly market recap

U.S. markets notched a good week. The Dow Jones industrial average rose by 3.7% over the past five trading days. The S&P 500 gained 3.3% and the Nasdaq jumped 2.6%.

4. Oil prices pushing up

West Texas Intermediate oil futures traded close to the highest level since July on Monday, amid indications U.S. oil drillers are cutting back on production following a collapse in prices over the summer.

Crude oil for delivery in November on the New York Mercantile Exchange tacked on 24 cents, or 0.48%, to trade at $49.87 a barrel during European morning hours.

There will be no floor trading on the Nymex on Monday because of the Columbus Day holiday in the U.S. All electronic transactions will be booked with Tuesday's trades for settlement.

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Oil prices are back above $50 per barrel and it looks like the Dow could extend a winning rally that began last week.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Market overview

U.S. stock futures are sitting around the levels where they closed on Thursday while global markets rally.

European markets are all up in early trading, boosted by mining and energy companies.

Germany's DAX index is rising 1% Friday.

Asian markets ended the session with gains.

Minutes from the September meeting of the Federal Reserve came out Thursday afternoon, revealing the Fed was worried about the impact of the slowing global economy when considering whether to raise interest rates.

These minutes pushed the dollar down and gave a boost to commodities.

Crude oil futures are now trading around $50.40 per share.

2. Stock market movers

Alcoa, Gap, Glencore: Shares in Alcoa (AA) look set to drop by 4% at the open after the company reported a disappointing set of earnings on Thursday evening.

Investors were unimpressed by a 5-week sales report from Gap (GPS) and shares are dipping by about 6% in extended trading.

The battered mining giant Glencore (GLCNF) announced Friday it will cut its zinc production by a third. The cutback will see the world's zinc output drop by 4%. Investors responded by bidding shares up by 8% in London. Glencore's shares have more than halved this year as investors worry about low commodity prices.

3. Listening to Lima

Hot shots from the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank have converged for a big annual meeting in Peru's capital city. Investors are paying very close attention.

"Sideline commentary from global policymakers ... may disrupt otherwise quiet consolidation into the end of the week," said Ilya Spivak, currency strategist at DailyFX.

On Thursday evening, the IMF's managing director Christine Lagarde called China's economic slowdown "healthy", saying it was the result of much-needed reforms.

The IMF had downgraded its world growth forecast earlier this week.

The meeting concludes Saturday.

4. Thursday market recap

Markets were up Thursday. The Dow Jones industrial average rose 0.8%, the S&P 500 climbed 0.9% and the Nasdaq added 0.4%.

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Thursday could be a very interesting day. There's a lot going on in the markets.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. M&A on my mind

Two powerful Chinese Internet startups -- essentially the Yelp and Groupon of China -- have joined forces in a deal that is reported to be worth $15 billion.

The firms -- Meituan and Dianping -- said Thursday that they would jointly establish a new company. Meituan and Dianping are backed by tech giants Alibaba (BABA, Tech30) and Tencent (TCEHY).

In the U.S., Dell and data-storage firm EMC (EMC) are reportedly in discussions about a business combination. Shares in EMC surged by about 8% in extended trading after the merger chatter began.

And in Europe, investors are still waiting for more news on whether AB InBev (BUD) and SABMiller (SBMRY) will merge.

2. Market overview

U.S. stock futures are sinking and the overall market mood is muted.

European markets are mixed in early trading. Asian markets also ended with mixed results.

In China, stock markets reopened after an extended holiday and the key indexes rose by 3% to 4%.

"The Chinese equity market re-opened and bounced, but not as much as some hoped," noted Kit Juckes, a global strategist at Societe Generale.

3. Market movers

Deutsche Bank, Fiat Chrysler: Shares in Deutsche Bank (DB) are swinging wildly between losses and gains in Germany after the bank revealed it will book a nearly $7 billion loss in the third quarter for a write down related to its corporate banking unit.

Shares in Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) are rallying by about 4% in Europe after the United Auto Workers union said it reached a tentative agreement with the automaker. This could avert a strike by 40,000 workers.

4. Earnings and economics

Domino's Pizza (DPUKY) will report quarterly earnings before the opening bell. Then after markets close, investors will hear from Alcoa (AA) and Ruby Tuesday (RT).

On the economic front, the Federal Reserve's Open Market Committee will post the minutes from its September meeting at 2 p.m. ET. Investors will parse through these notes for more information about the Fed's plans for a future rate hike.

In Germany, there was some disconcerting data showing a 5% slump in exports between August and July. That's the biggest monthly decline in exports since January 2009. It's also worth noting that this is before the Volkswagen scandal emerged in September.

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Investors are toasting a massive takeover offer in the beer market.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. It's takeover time

Anheuser-Busch InBev (AHBIF) has offered to buy SABMiller (SBMRY) for $104 billion in cash. If the deal goes through, it would be one of the biggest takeovers of all time, and the biggest deal so far this year.

Shares in both companies are rising by about 3% as investors cheer the news. However, SABMiller said Wednesday it believes the bid isn't quite high enough.

AB InBev notes that its offer of £42.15 per share ($64.35) represents a 44% premium over SABMiller's share price before takeover talk began in September.

AB InBev said it originally offered £38 per share, then £40 per share, before sweetening the bid further.

Meanwhile, competitors Diageo (DEO) and Heineken (HEINY) announced plans to swap some business units. Part of the deal involves Heineken selling its 20% stake in Guinness Ghana Breweries to Diageo.

2. Stock market movers

Volkswagen, Yum: Shares in Yum! Brands (YUM) took a 17% dive in extended trading on news that the fast food giant is still struggling in the Chinese market following a series of food safety scandals. The company owns KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut.

Shares in Volkswagen (VLKAY) are shooting up by about 5.5% in Europe after the automaker's new CEO told a German newspaper that the company would start a recall in January to fix millions of diesel vehicles that contain emissions cheating software. The recall will last throughout 2016.

3. Market overview

U.S. stock futures are rising ahead of the open and global markets are looking perky.

Nearly all European markets are up in early trading, while every major Asian markets closed out the day with gains.

Crude oil futures are also within spitting distance of $50 per barrel, rising by another 2% Wednesday after a surge of about 5% on Tuesday triggered by lower U.S. production. Later in the morning, oil traders will be closely monitoring a weekly report on U.S. crude inventories, which will be posted at 10:30 a.m. ET.

4. Earnings

Agricultural giant anto (MON) is reporting ahead of the open.

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Up or down? Investors can't make up their minds.

Stock markets are bouncing all over the place Tuesday after a stunning rally on Monday.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Market overview

U.S. stock futures are looking weak Tuesday, though they have clawed back from earlier lows. European markets had initially been in the red, but are now climbing into positive territory.

In Asia, most markets closed the day with gains. Chinese stock markets remain closed for a holiday.

In the commodities market, prices are staying relatively steady. Oil is trading around $46 per barrel and gold is holding at $1,138 per ounce.

2. Stock market movers

DuPont, Facebook, Amazon: Shares in American chemical company DuPont (DCDEX) are rising by 5% after the firm announced CEO Ellen Kullman is retiring and a new interim CEO is taking over. This firm also cut its earnings expectations for the year, blaming the revision on a strong dollar.

Shares in Facebook (FB, Tech30) and Amazon (AMZN, Tech30) are dipping a touch premarket after Europe's top court made a ruling that could damage the way tech companies use and share data within their own business units. The court ruled that European countries have the right to ban U.S. companies from transferring data back to the U.S.

3. Earnings and economics

Pepsi's (PEP) earnings are coming out ahead of the market open.

After the close, the owner of KFC and Taco Bell will report results.

On the economic side, the Census Bureau will post the national trade balance for August at 8:30 a.m. ET. The deficit narrowed in July.

4. Monday market recap

All the major U.S. stock indexes shot up by more than 1.5% on Monday. The Dow Jones industrial average led the way with a 1.9% gain.

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U.S. stock futures are ticking higher. Many European markets are rallying by about 2% in early trading and Asian markets ended Monday with solid gains.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Market movers

Volkswagen, Tesla, American Apparel: Shares in Volkswagen (VLKAY) are dropping by another 4% to trade around a four-year low. The stock has fallen by about 40% since mid-September after the company was caught cheating on emissions tests. Analysts at Credit Suisse recently forecast that in a worst case scenario the scandal could cost the company as much as $87 billion. The company has to detail its proposed fix for 11 million vehicles by Wednesday.

Shares in Tesla (TSLA) could be on the move after the electric car company reported solid quarterly sales of its Model S sedan. Third quarter sales were flat compared to the second quarter, but were up by 49% compared to the same period a year earlier.

American Apparel's (APP) stock is set for another drop after the embattled clothing company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday. The move is far from a surprise since American Apparel said in August it had "substantial doubt" that it would stay in business. Shares in the business have fallen by nearly 90% since the start of 2015.

2. Google = Alphabet

Google is officially becoming Alphabet today on the stock market after the company announced a shake-up to its corporate structure. Alphabet is now the parent company of Google and other tech business units.

Shareholders in Google will now own Alphabet class A (GOOGL, Tech30) or Alphabet class C (GOOG) shares. The ticker symbols -- GOOGL and GOOG -- remain unchanged.

3. Earnings and economics

There's only one earning report to watch Monday. The Container Store (TCS) will post quarterly results this afternoon.

On the economic front, the U.S. Institute for Supply Management will post monthly data about the performance of the service industry at 10 a.m. ET. Growth in services scaled back slightly in August after an unusual boost in July.

4. Weekly market recap

Last week ended with a bang as all the major indexes shot higher despite a weak jobs report that raised questions about the health of the U.S economy and the timing of the first Fed rate hike in a decade.

The Dow Jones industrial average and S&P 500 closed the week with a 1% gain. The Nasdaq was up by 0.5% by the end of the week after taking a sharp drop on Monday.

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The U.S. jobs report will be the talk of the market today.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. The big jobs report

The U.S. government will post September jobs data at 8:30 a.m. ET, including the unemployment rate, payroll figures and earnings.

Economists forecast that the economy added 204,000 jobs in the month.

In August, the unemployement rate dropped to 5.1%. Economists predict the rate will remain level in September.

Aside from those numbers, it's important to look at wage growth. Economists expect wages increased by 2.3%, on average, over the last year. A 2.2% boost was reported last month, but this lagged behind the Federal Reserve's target.

The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates later this year, but Fed members have been delaying a hike as they wait for the job market to show some real strength.

2. Stock market overview

U.S. stock futures are holding steady ahead of the jobs report.

Most European markets are strengthening in early trading, while Asian markets ended with mixed results

This follows a rather uninspiring Thursday when markets did a whole lotta nothing. The Dow Jones industrial average inched down 0.1%, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each notched a 0.2% gain.

3. Potential market movers

Micron, Wynn, T-Mobile, Experian: Shares in Micron Technology (MU) are rallying by about 7% premarket after the semiconductor firm reported earnings late Thursday that topped expectations. This was encouraging for investors who have seen the shares plummet by nearly 60% this year.

Shares in Wynn Resorts (WYNN) have suffered a similar fate in 2015 on concerns about its business in Macau. The stock is rebounding by 12% premarket.

And watch trading in T-Mobile (TMUS) and Experian (EXPGY). Experian suffered a major data breach where hackers have made off with personal information of 15 million people who applied to sign up for T-Mobile's service. T-Mobile used Experian, one of the three major credit bureaus, to conduct credit checks on its customers.

4. European Markets

European stocks opened sharply higher on Friday, supported by upbeat comments by European Central Bank President Mario Draghi and as investors eyed the release of U.S. jobs data later in the day.

During European morning trade, the EURO STOXX 50 rallied 1.19%, France’s CAC 40 advanced 1.32%, while Germany’s DAX 30 jumped 1.07%.

European equities strengthened after ECB President Mario Draghi said in a speech Thursday that growth in the euro zone is picking up thanks to the central bank’s accommodative monetary policy.

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It's a new month! Let's hope it would be better than the last one.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Green on the screen

U.S. stock futures are moving up and overseas markets are all rising.

Investors seem cheered by new economic data from China -- the manufacturing figures were certainly not stellar, but they were better than expected.

The official purchasing managers' index hit 49.8 in September, according to the National Bureau of Statistics, up slightly from 49.7 the previous month.

"The equity market is running high on ... optimism that [recent] China stimulus [initiatives] may be working. Traders are buying ... at least today, and we are seeing more bullish equity bets across the market," said Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Ava Capital Markets.

In Europe, many key indexes are climbing by about 1%. Asian markets ended with solid gains, though Chinese markets were closed Thursday for a holiday.
 

2. Potential movers

Twitter, Google, Microsoft: Investors are keeping a close eye on Twitter (TWTR, Tech30) after Re/code reported that the company could shortly announce that Jack Dorsey, its co-founder and interim CEO, will become its permanent CEO. This announcement has been expected for weeks.

Shares in Google (GOOG) and Microsoft (MSFT, Tech30) are edging higher Thursday after the companies were reported to have agreed to drop various long-running lawsuits against one another.

Other tech companies are also showing some strength premarket, indicating it could be an especially good day for the tech-heavy Nasdaq index.

3. Economics

Get ready for a full schedule of economic releases. Weekly jobless claims data will come from the Department of Labor at 8:30 a.m. ET

Then the Institute for Supply Management will release its ISM index for September at 10 a.m. The index gauges business conditions based on surveys with top business managers that make purchasing decisions. The index levels have stayed fairly even throughout 2015.

At the same time the Census Bureau will post construction spending data for August. Spending has increased every month so far this year, indicating strong housing and building development.

And throughout the day carmakers will be reporting September vehicle sales data. Investors will be particularly keen to look at sales of Volkswagen cars since the company became embroiled in a test-cheating scandal last month.

4. Wednesday market recap

The Dow Jones industrial average was up 236 points, closing with a gain of 1.5% on Wednesday. The S&P 500 added 1.9% and the Nasdaq swelled by 2.3%.

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It's been a tough quarter for global stock markets but it might end on higher form.

U.S. stock futures are trading higher, and indexes from Asia to Europe are notching up gains.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Markets overview

European markets are striding higher in early trading, with most regional indexes managing gains of 2%. Asian markets ended in positive territory -- Japan's Nikkei led the way, recovering from a sharp fall on Tuesday.

2. Stock market movers

Glencore, Volkswagen, Ralph Lauren: Glencore (GLNCY) continues to bounce back after the commodities group insisted the business remains "financially robust" and denied that it has solvency problems. The shares are up by about 10% Wednesday but still down by roughly 70% since the start of the year.

Volkswagen (VLKAY) shares gained about 3% in early European trade. The stock has lost a third of its value since news broke about the automaker cheating on diesel emissions tests.

Ralph Lauren (RL) shares rose nearly 4% in extended trading on news that a Gap (GPS) and Old Navy executive will replace Lauren as CEO. On the flip side, Gap's stock price is declining by about 4% premarket.

3. Economics

New data shows the eurozone is experiencing deflation again, with prices dipping by 0.1% in September. This figure will disappoint the European Central Bank, which introduced a stimulus program earlier this year to boost inflation and economic activity.

Meanwhile, European unemployment data for August shows the region continues to struggle with 11% unemployment, a number that has stayed stable compared to the previous month.

In the U.S., ADP will post its September employment figures at 8:15 a.m. ET.

Then, at 9:45 a.m., Wall Street will watch for the Chicago PMI, which may give some clues about what the ISM Index will say tomorrow.

Crude inventories data will be released at 10:30 a.m.

4. Tuesday recap

The Dow Jones industrial average inched up 0.3%, while the S&P 500 added 0.1% and the Nasdaq lost 0.6%.

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Stocks took a big fall on Monday but it's looking like they may claw back some lost ground today.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Market overview

U.S. stock futures are inching higher Tuesday, but global market sentiment remains cautious due to concerns about economic growth. "There's a great deal of investor concerns in the markets right now," said Jameel Ahmad, chief market analyst at FXTM.

Top worries include slowing growth in China, uncertainty over when the Federal Reserve will begin raising U.S. interest rates, depressed commodity prices and "continual concerns over the pace of economic recovery in both Japan and Europe," noted Ahmad.

European markets were mixed, and most Asian indexes skidded lower, led by a 4% plunge on Japan's Nikkei. On Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 1.9%, the S&P 500 dropped 2.6% and the Nasdaq took a 3% hit, bringing its five-day loss to nearly 6%.

2. India rate cut boosts stocks

India's Sensex index was the exception in Asia on Tuesday, gaining about 1.5% after the country's central bank cut its key interest rate by 50 basis points.

It was a bigger than expected cut, and the fourth by the Reserve Bank of India this year. The bank said risks to growth were rising.

3. Stock market movers

Yahoo, Tesla, Glencore: Shares in Yahoo (YHOO, Tech30) are up nearly 3% in extended trading after the company revealed plans to go ahead with its Alibaba (BABA, Tech30) spinoff regardless of whether the IRS approves the plan.

Shares in Tesla (TSLA) could be on the move Tuesday as the company is set to begin deliveries of its new Tesla SUV, dubbed the Model X.

Shares in Glencore (GLNCY) are rebounding -- up about 9% in London -- after falling by 29% Monday. The mining and trading conglomerate has been crushed by falling prices for commodities and fears that China's slowdown will make matters even worse.

4. Economics

The latest Case-Shiller housing price index comes out at 9 a.m. ET, giving a snapshot of the health of the U.S. housing market.

Then the Conference Board will update its Consumer Confidence Index with a September figure at 10 a.m. ET.

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A new week has begun and trading will kick off soon.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Shell shock

Oil giant Royal Dutch Shell (RDSB) announced overnight that it would stop all offshore drilling in Alaska for the foreseeable future after a key exploration well did not yield sufficient amounts of oil and gas.

The stoppage comes as oil prices trade around $45 per barrel -- a level that has squeezed profitability at oil producers around the world.

Shares in Shell are trading sideways in Europe.

2. Stock market overview

U.S. stock futures are edging lower and European markets are taking a dip in early trading.

Spain's IBEX 35 is the only index that's holding onto small gains. Investors may be relieved that parties campaigning for independence for the wealthy region of Catalonia failed to win a majority of votes cast in regional elections Sunday. They won a majority of seats in the regional parliament but ended up with just under 48% of the votes. That may make it harder for them to push ahead quickly with unilateral moves towards independence.

Asian markets ended with mixed results. The standout performer of the day was the Shenzhen index in China, which jumped by 2.4%. On the flip side, the Nikkei 225 index in Japan declined by 1.3%.

3. Market movers

SABMiller, Volkswagen, Glencore: Shares in SABMiller (SBMRY) are rising by 3% in London as investors hope that the world's largest beer brewer -- Anheuser-Busch InBev (AHBIF) -- is set to make a formal takeover offer for its competitor. If regulators allow a takeover of this size, it would be the biggest acquisition in the history of the beer industry, and one of the biggest in the world.

Shares in Volkswagen (VLKAY) are heading south again -- down about 6% -- as investors continue to worry about the fallout from its emissions scandal.

Shares in Glencore (GLNCY) are down by about 10% -- trading around their lowest level ever -- after the miner sold a nickel mine in Brazil for a disappointing price.

4. Weekly market recap

Last week was broadly negative in the U.S. markets. The Dow Jones industrial average dipped by 0.4%, the S&P 500 declined by 1.4% and the Nasdaq fell back by 2.9%.

The Nasdaq has dropped by about 10% since hitting a recent peak in July.

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Markets are looking perky Friday morning, holding out the prospect of an upbeat end to a rough week.

All major European indexes are trading more than 2% higher, and U.S. stock futures are pointing to a positive start as investors welcome Janet Yellen's explanation of the Fed's decision not to hike rates last week.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1) New boss at Volkswagen

The German automaker is expected to promote Porsche chief Matthias Mueller to group CEO as it struggles to get control of a crisis over falsified U.S. emissions tests. Media reports say Mueller will be named Friday as successor to Martin Winterkorn, who quit Wednesday.

Volkswagen (VLKAY) is also under huge pressure to provide more details about whether European tests were also deliberately manipulated, and to identify who was responsible for the misconduct. Its shares were trading 1% higher in Europe, but have lost about 25% since the scandal broke a week ago.

2) It's another iPhone day

The iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus hit stores Friday, with Apple (AAPL, Tech30) fans around the world camping out in line to become some of the first owners of the new devices.

The company has said it expects to beat last year's first-weekend record sales of 10 million units.

3) Stock market movers

Nike, Under Armour, BMW: Nike (NKE) stock is up nearly 8% premarket after the company reported strong earnings Thursday afternoon. The report helped rivals too -- Adidas (ADDYY) was trading 3.5% higher in Europe, while Under Armour (UA) also got a lift, climbing 2% after hours.

BMW (BAMXY) shares are bouncing back, trading 5% higher. The stock was slammed Thursday after a German magazine reported that one of the group's diesel fueled cars had breached European pollution limits by a huge margin in road tests. The company said it could not explain the results because it was not familiar with the detail, but strongly denied attempting to manipulate or rig any emissions tests.

4) Earnings and economics

Blackberry (BBRY, Tech30) and Finish Line (FINL) are reporting before the opening bell.

The U.S. government will issue new estimates for second-quarter GDP at 8:30 a.m. ET. Initial numbers showed it improved after lackluster results from the first three months of 2015.

Then, at 10 a.m. ET, the University of Michigan will post its final estimate for September consumer sentiment. First readings of the index showed a dip from August levels.

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Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Stock market overview

U.S. stock futures are looking soft.

Most European markets are dipping into the red, shrugging off a report out of Germany that suggests businesses have been holding up well in September. The Ifo Business Climate report was better than August and beat economists expectations.

In Asia, the Japanese Nikkei index took a 2.8% dive following the release of sluggish manufacturing data for September. The numbers from Markit show a sharp reduction in international demand, particularly from China.

Across the rest of Asia, trading was mixed.

2. Stock market movers -- BMW, VW, Consol Energy

Shares in BMW (BAMXY) are falling sharply in Europe as investors worry that the luxury German automaker may be caught up in a widening scandal over diesel emissions. A German magazine reported that one BMW model breached European pollution limits in road tests. BMW has said it does not use any software that can manipulate emissions in a test cycle.

Meanwhile, VW shares continue to recover in Europe after being slammed into reverse earlier this week.

The automaker's CEO resigned Wednesday after the company admitted cheating U.S. emission tests and reported significant discrepancies in emissions between test and road conditions in 11 million vehicles worldwide. The company now faces well over 30 lawsuits in the U.S. related to the scandal, and German state prosecutors are considering legal action.

Coal and natural gas producer Consol Energy (CNX) is seeing wild swings in its shares in premarket trading. The stock dropped by 8.6% on Wednesday as coal futures prices fell, but now it's set for a sharp recovery at the open.

3. Earnings

Book publisher Scholastic (SCHL) and consulting firm Accenture (ACN) will report ahead of the open.

Retailers including Nike (NKE), Pier 1 (PIR) and Bed Bath & Beyond (BBBY) are reporting results after the close.

4. Economics

The Department of Labor is releasing weekly jobless claims data at 8:30 a.m. ET. Federal unemployment statistics have shown for months that the labor market is in good shape.

At 10 a.m., the Census Bureau will release new home sales data for August.

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Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1. Volkswagen veers off course

Shares in Volkswagen are dropping sharply in Europe after American regulators accused the automaker of cheating on emission control tests.

Volkswagen's CEO Martin Winterkorn issued a statement Sunday that stopped short of admitting guilt, but said he was "deeply sorry that we have broken the trust of our customers and the public."

Federal and California regulators say emission controls in some Volkswagen and Audi models were programed only to turn on when the car was being tested.

The software is installed in nearly 500,000 Volkswagen cars on U.S. roads.

VW said it had stopped selling the vehicles at issue.

2. Greece in the spotlight

Alexis Tsipras has declared victory in Greece's snap elections Sunday.

Tsipras became prime minister in January 2015 and helped negotiate a new bailout for the country.

"The result is a government that is likely to be exactly the same as the last government, although Prime Minister Tsipras was not the anti-establishment candidate this time," said Paul Donovan, a senior economist at UBS.

Investors seem to have shrugged off the results, with the Greek index moving between positive and negative territory in early trading.

3. Market moves

U.S. stock futures are pushing higher after being in the red earlier this morning.

Pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY) is rising in extended trading while Chesapeake Energy (CHK) shares are drooping.

European markets are mixed in early trading, while Asian markets ended with broadly negative results. However, the main indexes in China closed with gains.

The Shenzhen index rallied by 3.6% and the Shanghai Composite jumped by nearly 2% over the course of the trading day.

4. Friday market recap

Friday was a negative day in the markets. The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 1.7%, while the S&P 500 shed 1.6% and the Nasdaq lost 1.4%.

The turmoil came one day after the U.S. Fed announced that it was leaving its benchmark interest rate near 0%.

Fed chief Janet Yellen said in explanation: "The outlook abroad appears to have become more uncertain."

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Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1) Reacting to the Fed

All European indexes are declining in early trading as regional markets get their first chance to react to the Federal Reserve's decision to leave interest rates unchanged. Germany's DAX index is leading the markets down with a fall of nearly 2%.

"Leaving U.S. interest rates unchanged would normally be enough to see markets cheer at the prospect of cheap money for longer, but heightened concerns about external factors such as China, market volatility and deflation derailing a stateside recovery has resulted in an understandably cautious stance being adopted," noted Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets.

Most Asian markets ended the day with modest gains, but the Nikkei in Japan declined by 2%.

2) U.S. stocks

Stock futures are dipping lower.

Over the previous trading session, the Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 were down, losing 0.4% and 0.3% respectively. The Nasdaq inched up 0.1%.

"Financial markets priced a relatively low probability of a rate hike yesterday and the immediate reaction [to] the unchanged Fed rates was quite moderate," explained Benjamin Dousa, a market analyst at SEB bank.

3) Potential market mover -- Adobe

Investors should watch Adobe (ADBE) this morning. The shares are sinking by about 2% in extended trading after the company released earnings Thursday evening and said it was rejigging its management team.

4) Economic data

The U.S. Conference Board will post its monthly update of leading indicators at 10 a.m. ET. The composite index tracks business cycles, and it fell last month after four months of strong gains.

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Cheers! A mega beer deal is brewing and global markets are rising.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1) You can drink to that

SABMiller (SBMRY) shares are surging by about 18% in London after the global beer giant revealed that competitor Anheuser-Busch InBev (AHBIF) is planning to make a takeover offer.

These are the two biggest beer companies in the world, based on the volume of drinks they sell. Their combined market capitalization is about $270 billion.

Shares in AB InBev are also up about 8%.

2) Waiting on the Fed

Traders continue to chatter excitedly about the Federal Reserve meeting, which begins today and ends Thursday. Fed chairwoman Janet Yellen will announce on Thursday afternoon whether the Fed will hike interest rates.

"Markets currently think there is around a one in three chance that the Fed will hike rates this week," said Larry Hatheway, chief economist at investment firm GAM. "Clearly, the China slowdown and resulting market tumult has led the majority of investors to conclude that the Fed will not raise rates this month."

The Fed has been warning for months that a rate rise was in the cards, but many expect it will be delayed until a meeting in December.

3) Stock market overview

U.S. stock futures are holding steady, but there's excitement overseas, helped by the beer merger talk.

Many European stock markets are rising by about 1% in early trade after Asian markets closed the day with a breathtaking surge.

The benchmark stock index in Shanghai rose by nearly 5% and the Shenzhen index shot up by 6.5%.

International markets are rallying following a positive Tuesday in the U.S. The Dow Jones industrial average gained 1.4%, the S&P 500 added 1.3% and the Nasdaq jumped by 1.1%.

As it stands now, U.S. stock indexes are all in positive territory for the month. 

4) Potential market mover

HP, Xerox, FedEx: Shares in Hewlett-Packard (HPQ, Tech30) will likely see higher-than-normal trading volume Wednesday after the firm announced plans to cut another 25,000 to 30,000 jobs. This is the latest dramatic downsizing at the once-iconic tech company.

Meanwhile, shares in competitor Xerox (XRX) are jumping premarket, though trading volume is light.

We could also see significant moves from FedEx (FDX) and Cracker Barrel (CBRL), which are reporting earnings ahead of the open.

Oracle (ORCL, Tech30) will report quarterly results after the close.

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Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1) A rate rise?

Traders across the U.S. and overseas are monitoring the Fed closely as its monetary policy committee prepares to announce its biggest decision in a long time. The Fed must decide whether the U.S. economy is healthy enough for the first interest rate hike in nearly a decade.

The decision could have far-reaching ramifications on stocks, currencies, bonds, mortgages and even car loans.

Expect the news at 2 p.m. ET, and brace for a swift market reaction.

A chorus of influential voices, including the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank, have called on the Fed not to raise rates just yet. Others say it's high time to end the uncertainty.

"The fact that there is uncertainty -- not just in markets (where it is to be expected) but amongst economists -- is a signal that the Fed's attempts at policy transparency have been less than successful," said Paul Donovan, a senior economist at UBS.

2) Stock market overview

U.S. stock futures are dipping down following a two-day rally, partly fueled by expectations that the Fed won't move this month.

European markets are mostly heading lower in early trading, while Asian markets ended with mixed results.

3) Market movers - Cablevision, Expedia, Orbitz, Air Products, Oracle

Shares in Cablevision (CVC) are up about 16% premarket after the cable operator announced it is being bought by Altice (ATCEY), a European telecommunications company.

Altice has agreed to pay $34.90 a share for Cablevision, making the deal worth $17.7 billion including debt. The price represents a 22% premium over Cablevision's closing price Wednesday.

Shares in Expedia (EXPE) and Orbitz (OWW) look set to pop at the open after the companies got clearance from the U.S. Justice Department to go ahead with their merger.

Regulators had been concerned that combining two of the largest search sites for cheap hotel and rental car rates would violate antitrust law.

Shares in Air Products and Chemicals (APD) are up about 3% in extended trading after the company said it will spin off its material technology unit in a tax-free deal.

Oracle (ORCL, Tech30) shares look set to dip when trading begins after the company reported earnings on Wednesday evening.

4) Earnings and economics

Soccer powerhouse Manchester United (MANU) is reporting earnings ahead of the open along with Rite Aid (RAD) and Marcus (MCS).

Adobe (ADBE) will report this afternoon.

On the economic front, the Department of Labor will release its weekly jobless claims report at 8:30 a.m. ET.

Also at 8:30 a.m., expect the August report on home construction from the Census Bureau.

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Stock market losses in China are dragging down sentiment across the globe again.

U.S. stock futures are dipping and most Asian and European indexes are in the red.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1) Fragile China

Chinese stocks suffered another round of heavy losses on Tuesday, renewing concerns over government efforts to support markets.

The Shanghai Composite shed 3.5% on Tuesday, bringing losses for the week to 6%. Declines have been even steeper on the smaller Shenzhen Composite, which has lost more than 11% over the past two trading sessions.

"Further weak data from China and the continual uncertainty over when the Federal Reserve will begin raising U.S. interest rates has encouraged the markets to begin the week under pressure once again," noted research analyst Lukman Otunuga at currency broker FXTM.

The Nikkei 225 in Japan was one of the few indexes to edge higher Tuesday, gaining 0.3%. 

2) Fed chatter

An interest rate decision from the U.S. Federal Reserve is still a couple of days away. But analysts can't stop talking about it.

"The question everyone wants answered is, are we finally at the end of the period of ultra low interest rates?" said James Penn, a senior portfolio manager at Thomas Miller Investment in the U.K.

The first rise in U.S. interest rates in nearly a decade would ripple through markets around the world. The Fed decision will be announced on Thursday. 

3) Economics

The Census Bureau is releasing updated U.S. retail sales data for August at 8:30 a.m. ET. Retail sales increased 0.6% in July. 

4) Monday market recap

Stocks took a dip Monday. The Dow Jones industrial average and the S&P 500 each shed 0.4%, and the Nasdaq lost 0.3%.

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It’s the Fed week.

Here are 4 tips for today's trading. This will help you decide where you should invest and what to look for:

1) Markets on hold

U.S. stock futures are pointing up, but the gains are muted -- as are global markets -- as investors wait for this week's Federal Reserve meeting. European markets are narrowly firmer in early trading, and Asian markets ended mixed: Hong Kong and India advanced but stocks in Japan and China fell back.

Shares in ARM Holdings (ARMH, Tech30) -- a British company that designs the chips that power iPhones and smartphones -- are rising by about 3% in London.

2) A chill from China

Chinese markets took another tumble Monday after the release of weak industrial production and investment data. Still, economists do not expect growth to slow sharply this year -- they estimate expansion of 6.9% for 2015, very close to the official 7% target. The Shenzhen index dropped by 6.7% and the Shanghai Composite declined by 2.7%.

3) Fed countdown

Analysts and economists are eagerly awaiting the upcoming meeting of Federal Reserve members on Wednesday and Thursday. A decision on interest rates will come out Thursday and is sure to have an immediate impact on the markets.

"The decision itself is arguably more important for the markets than anything else we've seen so far in 2015," said Angus Campbell, senior analyst at FxPro.

"There is still a minority that is of the view that the [Fed] will announce a [rate] hike this Thursday, but it's hard to see how a hike now will help investors given all that the financial markets have been though in the past few weeks, in particular emerging markets." 

4) Weekly market recap

The last week was generally positive and Friday ended on a high note. The Dow Jones industrial average ticked up 0.6% Friday, while the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq each gained 0.5%.

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