Stocks: Waiting for Cyprus

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Stock futures experienced a sudden uplift Friday, after a representative of the Cyprus government said a bailout deal could be reached in the next few hours.

The announcement helped alleviate a cloud of uncertainty that's been looming over Wall Street.

"People like to have a definitive answer, rather than something lurking in the darkness," said Anthony Conroy, head trader at ConvergEx Group.

All eyes are on Cyprus, where lawmakers are discussing new proposals to raise the money the country needs to qualify for its European Union bailout.

"In a few hours, we will be called upon to take the big decisions and reply to the hard dilemmas," said Christos Stylianides, spokesman for the Cypriot government.

U.S. stock futures made gains after Stylianides' comments. Before that, they were flat.

Talks between Russian officials and the Cyprus government broke up early Friday, with no agreement on a cash infusion that could help the island nation secure a

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Stocks: Jobs data on tap

U.S. stocks rose Wednesday.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Investors head into Thursday awaiting several new economic reports and fresh developments in Cyprus.

U.S. stocks rose Wednesday as the Federal Reserve reiterated that its stimulus measures will remain in effect until the job market gets back on track.

The Fed said in its policy statement that it will continue buying $85 billion worth of Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities to help "make broader financial conditions more accommodative."

U.S. stock futures were little changed ahead of the opening bell Thursday.

Fear & Greed Index

On Thursday, the government will release its weekly update on initial jobless claims at 8:30 a.m. ET. The National Association of Realtors will publish data on existing home sales for February at 10:00, while the Conference Board will release its Leading Indicators Index and the Philadelphia branch of the Federal Reserve will publish its monthly business outlook survey.

In corporate news, homebuilder KB Home (KBH) and lululemon athletica (LULU) are scheduled to release quarterly results in the morning. Nik (NKE, Fortune 500)e is up after the bell.

Shares of Oracle (ORCL, Fortune 500) sank in after-hours trading Wednesday after the tech giant reported quarterly earnings that missed expectations.

European markets were lower in morning trading, nervously awaiting news of a revised plan to prevent a financial collapse in Cyprus, while Asian markets ended mixed. The Shanghai Composite added 0.3% and the Nikkei increased 1.3%, while the Hang Seng declined 0.1%.

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Stocks: Cyprus keeping investors on edge

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NEW YORK (CNNMoney) U.S. stocks finished mixed Tuesday, after lawmakers in Cyprus voted against a tax on bank deposits. This throws into doubt a

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Stocks: Fed on deck amid Cyprus turmoil

At 2 p.m. ET, the Federal Reserve will release its latest statement on interest rates and economic forecasts.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Investors will be watching developments out of Cyprus on Wednesday after lawmakers voted against a tax on bank deposits, calling a bailout deal into question.

U.S. markets didn't react sharply to the news Tuesday, but that could change if the situation remains unresolved.

Investors will also have the Federal Reserve's latest outlook on the U.S. economy to consider.

At 2 p.m. ET, the Fed will release its latest statement on interest rates and economic forecasts. Chairman Ben Bernanke is expected to maintain a gloomy outlook despite stronger economic data.

U.S. stock futures were modestly higher ahead of the opening bell.

In corporate news, FedEx (FDX, Fortune 500) reports earnings before the open. The company is often viewed as a bellwether for the broader economy due to the global scope of its business.

Also reporting before the open are General Mills (GIS, Fortune 500) and home-builder Lennar (LEN), which will give a read on the state of consumer spending and the housing recovery.

U.S. stocks finished mixed Tuesday. The Dow Jones industrial average added four points, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq declined more than 0.2%.

Adobe Systems (ADBE) shares rose in after-hours trading after the graphics software maker beat earnings estimates.

Fear & Greed Index

European markets rose in morning trading, while Asian markets posted gains. The Shanghai Composite added 2.7% and Hong Kong's Hang Seng advanced 1%. Tokyo's stock market was closed for the first day of spring.

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