Asian stocks were mixed Friday after Japan slashed interest rates to almost zero, as central banks around the world pump cheap money into the markets to support a troubled global economy. European shares opened lower.

Germany's Norddeutsche Affinerie, Finland's Outotec also forecast weakness

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TORONTO - The Toronto stock market's main index maintained a modest gain late in the morning thanks to rising energy and mining shares, but the TSX was hobbled by financial sector losses.

Dec. 17 (Bloomberg) -- The following companies had unusual price changes in U.S. trading . Stock symbols are in parentheses, and share prices are as of 4 p.m. in New York.

TORONTO - The Toronto stock market moved ahead in early trading as oil prices moved higher and Ottawa offered assistance to the struggling mining and forestry sectors in next month's federal budget.

Dec. 17 (Bloomberg) -- Leighton Holdings Ltd. , Australia

TORONTO - The Toronto stock market's main index maintained a modest gain late in the morning thanks to rising energy and mining shares, but the TSX was hobbled by financial sector losses.

ATTENTION EDITORS,

(RTTNews) - The major European index futures are pointing towards a higher opening for the markets on Wednesday. Global cues are strong, with the U.S. market surging up Tuesday following the Fed's interest rate cut to a record low and the Asian markets trading higher on Wednesday.