SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Stocks fell on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over the health of the U.S. economy and surging oil and commodity prices, while Japanese exporters felt the pinch from a stronger yen.

Reflecting continued uncertainty in the mortgage markets and consumers' unwillingness to buy when most home values are falling, a record-low number of homes sold in March in Santa Clara County, and the median price of those that did sell dropped significantly.

LONDON (Reuters) - European stocks picked up the firmer tone set in Asia on Wednesday, with financials and tech shares helping cap risk aversion, but uncertainty stalked the dollar as nervous investors eyed results from major U.S. banks.

NEW YORK - With uncertainty building over where the economy is headed, some investors are jumping into new strategies hoping to ride out some of Wall Street's gyrations.

NEW YORK — A closely watched gauge of future economic activity edged up in July, reversing the previous month's decline. The recent erratic pattern reflects uncertainty in a U.S. economy roiled by a credit crunch.