NEW YORK (Reuters) - A lot of loyal Facebook fans and occasional investors are discovering a hard truth this week: Money and connections talk, especially when it comes to a deal handled by Wall Street. The scramble for shares in what is one of largest initial public offerings in U.S. history quickly divided the haves from the have-nots on Thursday. Those with big brokerage accounts and a long history as customers of Wall Street firms likely got at least part of their orders for Facebook shares filled, but would-be buyers who had no such ties were lucky to get any. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A lot of loyal Facebook fans and occasional investors are discovering a hard truth this week: Money and connections talk, especially when it comes to a deal handled by Wall Street.

(Reuters) - Gap Inc raised its yearly profit forecast, prompted by first-quarter earnings that topped Wall Street estimates and rising sales, and its shares rose 8 percent after hours.

(Reuters) - Gap Inc raised its yearly profit forecast, prompted by first-quarter earnings that topped Wall Street estimates and rising sales, and its shares rose 8 percent after hours. For the full year, Gap estimated earnings of $1.78 to $1.83 a share, above the $1.75 to $1.80 it forecast in February. "It's important to remain measured in our outlook given that our biggest selling seasons are still ahead of us," said Chief Financial Officer Sabrina Simmons. Given the first quarter beat, "the current forecast does appear to be conservative," said Betty Chen, an analyst with Wedbush Securities. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks fell for a fifth day and Brent oil prices dropped 2 percent on Thursday on concerns about the health of Spain's banks and the prospect of Greece leaving the euro zone. Adding to pressure on Wall Street stocks was a U.S. government report showing manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic states unexpectedly contracted in May. The Standard & Poor's 500 index finished at a four-month low. The data helped lift safe-haven U.S. Treasuries prices and pushed the 10-year note yield to its lowest in more than seven months, while the yen climbed against the euro and dollar. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks fell for a fifth day and Brent oil prices dropped 2 percent o n T hursday on concerns about the health of Spain's banks and the prospect of Greece leaving the euro zone. Adding to pressure on Wall Street stocks was a U.S. government report showing manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic states unexpectedly contracted in May. The data helped lift safe-haven U.S. Treasuries prices and pushed the 10-year note yield to its lowest in more than seven months, while the yen climbed against the euro and dollar. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks fell for a fifth day and Brent oil prices dropped 2 percent on Thursday on concerns about the health of Spain's banks and the prospect of Greece leaving the euro zone. Adding to pressure on Wall Street stocks was a U.S. government report showing manufacturing in the mid-Atlantic states unexpectedly contracted in May. The Standard & Poor's 500 index finished at a four-month low. The data helped lift safe-haven U.S. Treasuries prices and pushed the 10-year note yield to its lowest in more than seven months, while the yen climbed against the euro and dollar. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks hit a four-month low on Thursday as rising Spanish bond yields increased investor anxiety over that country's banks and another round of weak data undermined hopes for U.S. economic recovery. Growing worries over developments in the euro zone and lackluster economic data pushed the S&P's losing streak to five consecutive days. The index, which closed at a level not seen since mid-January, has now relinquished more than half of its gains from the first quarter. ...

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Stocks hit a four-month low on Thursday as rising Spanish bond yields increased investor anxiety over that country's banks and another round of weak data undermined hopes for U.S. economic recovery. Growing worries over developments in the euro zone and lackluster economic data pushed the S&P's losing streak to five consecutive days. The index, which closed at a level not seen since mid-January, has now relinquished more than half of its gains from the first quarter. ...