Global equity markets have received a boost from an upturn in crude oil as the market focused on a forthcoming meeting of major oil producers.

Saudi Arabia - Stung by falling oil prices, Saudi Arabia has cut spending and subsidies as part of harsh austerity measures that threaten the lavish welfare programs underpinning its stability.

The departing chief of Royal Dutch Shell's U.S. division says the failed quest to find crude in Arctic waters off Alaska is still a point of pride because it demonstrated the company's technical expertise.

'Liquid American Freedom' - the first US crude bound for overseas markets in 40- years has left the Gulf coast headed for France.

Petrol prices have been fluctuating over the last couple of months, but it is hard to say whether pump prices will keep falling.

Historically high refining margins, a weaker kiwi dollar and high plant reliability combined to give New Zealand Refining one of its best annual results on record.

The Saudis may go public, OPEC's in disarray, the U.S. is suddenly a global exporter, and shale drillers are seeking lifelines from investors as banks abandon them.

US President Barack Obama is proposing a $10-a-barrel oil tax, phased in over five years, to pay for a variety of transportation initiatives.

The Bank of Japan's unexpected decision to add monetary stimulus further lowered expectations that Fed policy makers will raise interest rates again.

Crude oil prices have risen to their highest in three weeks on hopes for a pact among oil producers to cut output.

Wall Street moved higher with oil prices and better-than-expected US corporate earnings including from Facebook.

Equities on both side of the Atlantic moved lower with the price of oil, while US Treasuries and gold rose.

Oil prices have hit record lows - and expect them to go lower.

New Zealand shares fell following oil-driven weakness in US and European markets, with Nuplex Industries and Sky Network Television while Air New Zealand rose.

What's the point of market turmoil if the best stuff doesn't actually fall very far?

Another plunge in the price of crude oil sent stocks sharply lower on Wednesday, bringing the market to its lowest level in nearly two years.

US stocks recovered much of an early plunge, but oil suffered its worst one-day drop in months.

There are two different flavors of "supply side" economics.

IMF has lowered its forecast of global economic growth over the next two years amid the deepening slowdown in emerging markets.

Inflation is at its lowest since 1999 - and that's at the heart of the biggest problem facing the economy.

Wall Street moved higher overnight as investors found value in beaten-down stocks as the latest data from China eased concerns about the world economy.