U.S. stocks ended little changed on Thursday as equity markets around the
world capped their best monthly gain in years after fresh U.S. economic data
kindled hopes that a deep recession is almost over.

U.S. government bond prices were steady as the perception that the longest
recession since the Depression may end by late summer took greater hold,
despite automakers Chrysler filing for bankruptcy. [ID:nLU940906]

The benchmark S&P 500 Index .SPX posted its best monthly gain by
percentage point since March 2000, while MSCI's all-countries world index
.MIWD00000PUS climbed to it's best monthly performance in more than a
decade.

The S&P 500 index is up 29 percent from the bear-market closing low set on
March 9.

To read more, double-click on the square brackets below:
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MARKET REPORTS:
> GLOBAL MARKETS-US stocks see good month despite Chrysler news[ID:nN30617550]
> MONEY MARKETS-Dollar rates lower in wake of Fed statement [ID:nN30555331]
> EMERGING MARKETS-Shares near biggest one month jump sinc 1989[ID:nLU940517]
MAIN ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL NEWS DRIVING GLOBAL MARKETS
> Chrysler files for bankruptcy, signs Fiat deal [ID:nLU940906]
> US aims to unveil individual bank stress test results [ID:nN30527288]
> US jobless claims fall and spending, income slips [ID:nN30506091]
> US 30-year mortgage rate drops to match record low [ID:nN30518201]
> Canada manufacturing rises in Feb, but GDP down [ID:nN29434455]
> Mexico begins shutting down as flu fears spread [ID:nSP370581]
> Eurozone jobless jumps amid recession, inflation low [ID:nLU959277]
> UK house prices fall 16.2 pct in March year [ID:nLU397320]
> WHO raises flu threat level, warns pandemic imminent [ID:nN29472619]
> Japan industrial output rises in March, BOJ holding fire [ID:nT277157]
ANALYSIS RELATED TO GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS
> Union, government control of US automakers seen a risk [ID:nN30154284]
> Mexico faces deeper recession on swine flu outbreak [ID:nN30198214]
> China growth seen boosting miners, autos, chemicals [ID:nLS802283]
> What the Fed is considering at this week's meeting [ID:nN27611182]
> Fed seen holding fire this week, taking stock of actions [ID:nN24447363]
> G20 pledges make hard work for finance ministers [ID:nLQ570304]
> China's big gold buy barely kept pace with forex [ID:nSP417869]
> US officials walk tightrope on bank stress tests [ID:nN22535525]
> Few patients ready to take new IMF vaccine [ID:nN23550135]
FACTBOXES
> Details of Chrysler bankruptcy, restructuring plan [ID:nN30323164]
> Fed purchases of agency MBS through April 22 [ID:nN28448776]
> TEXT-G7 communique-April 24 [ID:nN24515491]
> World government actions to limit bank bad loan damage [ID:nLL193589]
> Major US financial regulation reform initiatives [ID:nN20382395]
> Where has all the US bailout money gone ? [ID:nN0289041]
> US faces potential $10.9 trln economic rescue bill [ID:nN06393634]
> G20 summit final communique [ID:nL2577733]
> Key Obama financial regulation proposals [ID:nN26484944]
> US Treasury details toxic asset plan [ID:nLN437165]
> Q&A - How will the US asset clean up plan work ? [ID:nN23293892]
> US Treasury fact sheet on investment program [ID:nN23190502]
> Federal Reserve statement after March 17-18 meeting [ID:nN18366605]
> Bank of Japan on subordinated loans to banks [ID:nT326441]