A weaker dollar and hopes for more good news on employment are lifting stock futures. Following a now-familiar pattern, stock futures rose Thursday as the dollar slipped against other major currencies. A weaker dollar makes commodities cheaper for foreign buyers and boosts profits at U.S.

European markets inched higher Thursday as investors set aside concerns about government finances in the West that had earlier weighed on Asian stocks. In afternoon trading in Europe, Britain’s FTSE 100 was 0.4 percent higher at 5,223.96, Germany’s DAX rose 0.7 percent to 5,689.44 and France’s CAC 40 grew 0.8 percent to 3,787.40.

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Japanese stocks fell Thursday as fresh concerns about the strong yen and mounting doubts about the country’s economic recovery weighed on sentiment. The benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average lost 141.90 points, or 1.4 percent, to 9,862.82. The broader Topix index finished down 1.3 percent at 873.90.

Chinese shares rebounded Thursday after the government extended tax cuts and subsidies for purchases of small vehicles and appliances to support the economic recovery. The benchmark Shanghai Composite Index edged up 14.7 points, or 0.5 percent, to close at 3,254.26. The Shenzhen Composite Index for China’s second exchange added 0.7 percent to end at 1,220.02

Are you bothered by creditors who constantly remind you of your past due debts? Would you like to be free from stressful contacts with your creditors? Are you aware of your rights as a borrower

What are reverse mortgages and are they right for you? If you own a home which has equity – that is value above what you owe on the house in terms of liens, taxes, mortgages and other loans – then you may qualify for a reverse mortgage. A reverse mortgage is almost exactly what it sounds like, instead of you buying a house and lending money from the bank slowly paying it off, a lender slowly pays you money in the form of a loan that will have to be paid back either when you sell your house or upon your death (where the house will be sold by the bank).