DUBAI / Reuters Arabtec’s shares rose after the Dubai builder swung to its first quarterly net profit since September 2014, bucking the trend in most of the region’s markets which followed global bourses and oil prices lower on Thursday. “The return to profitability (at Arabtec) is a good indicator and we believe there will be no negative surprises …

  Bloomberg US stock futures pointed to a higher opening and European equities advanced amid positive earnings reports. Brent crude slid below $50 a barrel for the first time since March, while the rout in metals prices worsened. The S&P 500 Index looked to snap a string of meager moves, and the Euro Stoxx 600 climbed as Met Life Inc. …

  Bloomberg Air France-KLM Group showed signs of a turnaround, with ticket-price declines almost halted in the first quarter as bookings increased and business-class fares surged. The positive demand-trend continued into April, and Europe’s biggest carrier is also benefiting from an increase in cash flow, reduced costs and a declining fuel bill, it said in a statement Thursday. The advances …