UNITED STATES

Stock index futures were little changed on Friday after the Group of Eight leaders of rich nations said the world's economic recovery was more self-sustained but faced headwinds.

The Group of Eight leaders agreed on Friday that the global economy recovery was becoming more self-sustained, although higher commodity prices were hampering further growth.

The U.S. Commerce Department has already painted a bleak picture of GDP growth, but the recovery will face tougher headwinds if fiscal consolidation efforts set in, analysts have said.

Libya's government has pushed for a ceasefire, saying for the first time it is prepared to talk to the rebel adversary.

Europe's shares advanced on Friday, led higher by banks after a media report that stringent capital requirements for European banks could be relaxed, and helping power world stocks up for the fourth straight day.

The top after-market NYSE losers on Thursday are: Paragon Shipping, Boardwalk Pipeline Partners, Georgia Gulf Corp, Moneygram International, First Commonwealth Financial, Vaalco Energy, Weight Watchers International, Allied Irish Banks, Federal Signal Corp. and Credicorp Ltd.

Online retailer Amazon has released the list of top ten most well-read cities in America, with Cambridge in Massachusetts topping the list, followed by Alexandria, Virginia.

General Motors will create 110 jobs and invest $331 million to purchase tooling and equipment and expand the Arlington Assembly Plant to make future Chevrolet Tahoes, Suburbans, GMC Yukons and Cadillac Escalades, the carmaker said on Thursday.

Google unveiled its much anticipated mobile payments system -- Google Wallet -- in New York on Thursday, promising to change for ever the way people use money for transactions. In the past few thousand years, the way we pay has changed just three times—from coins, to paper money, to plastic cards. Now we’re on the brink of the next big shift, Google stated.

Asian stocks posted solid gains for a second consecutive day on Friday as market players scooped up bargains while the euro pushed higher, though the currency's gains may be limited for now as fears of a Greek default weighed on sentiment.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived on an unannounced visit in Islamabad on Friday, aimed at repairing ties and resolving tensions that were raised after the death of Osama bin Laden.

More than 40 Yemenis were killed as violence erupted in Sana’a peaceful pro-democracy protests. Yemen was on the verge of a civil war as there was overnight combat between the government forces and tribal militia.

Gold futures advanced on Friday as deepening concern over Greece debt default spurred demand for the metal as a safe haven investment.

Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will announce next week about his plans for 2012 Republican presidential nomination in New Hampshire and the only negative point in him is his lack of private sector experience, a Romney aide told Reuters on Thursday.

The bill dealing with the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq and Libya gave rise to a heated debate as lawmakers voiced frustration over the lack of an end in sight after 10 years of war, a Reuters report stated on Wednesday.

A suicide bomber killed 24 people in Pakistan on Thursday in the latest militant attack since the death of Osama bin Laden which has angered Pakistan and led to a call for the United States to withdraw some of its military trainers, a Reuters report said.

Crude oil futures advanced in Asian trade on Friday amid weak U.S. dollar, which made commodities including oil more affordable for investors holding other currencies.

US Lawmakers sent a clear warning to President Barack Obama about growing exhaustion over the war in Afghanistan on Thursday as they passed a defense policy bill authorizing $690 billion in military spending for the 2012 fiscal year reported Reuters on Thursday.

by Adam TempkinNEW YORK, May 26 - Increasingly aggressive property appraisals, so-called incentive management fees for hotel properties, and the limited return of pro forma underwriting are among the troubling trends that Standard & Poor's cites as red flags in the quickly evolving revival of the commercial mortgage-backed security market.

Facebook said it has hired a former Bush administration official to help it head up its Washington operations, placing the company closer to policy makers.

The United States will help Japan as it copes with the massive earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, and tries to rebuild its state, President Barack Obama said on Thursday, soothing a rift between the two allies over the atomic disaster.