U.S. consumer sentiment pulled back in late August from earlier in the month but still improved from late July in the face of dismal labor and housing conditions, a private survey released on Friday showed.
Britain's economy grew at its fastest pace for nine years in the second quarter, an unexpected revision to official data showed on Friday, but economists said a sharp slowdown was still on the cards.
The U.S. economy hit a soft patch in the second quarter but is not likely to fall back into recession and will pick up speed in the first half of 2011, St. Louis Federal Reserve President James Bullard said on Friday.
The top share index was up by midday on Friday, off a seven-week low earlier this week, after the UK's second-quarter gross domestic product was unexpectedly revised upwards and ahead of a speech from U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
U.S. stocks rose in volatile trading on Friday, shrugging off initial losses after the Federal Reserve chairman said the recovery has softened more than expected and Intel Corp warned about revenue.
The number of U.S. homes headed for foreclosure fell during the second quarter, marking the first such drop since the housing slump began in 2006, but the improvement may be fleeting as the number of newly delinquent homeowners rose, a banking group said on Wednesday.
U.S. chipmaker Intel and Infineon are likely to announce an agreement on the future of the German chipmaker's wireless business this weekend, three people familiar with the matter said.
Tiffany & Co reported softer-than-expected quarterly sales as U.S. customers spent less on its selection of lower-priced jewelry, sending its shares down more than 5 percent.
American International Group Inc has scrapped plans to sell a strategic stake in its Asian life insurance business, AIA, ahead of its initial public offering, a source familiar with the process said on Friday.
Economic growth was revised down to a sluggish 1.6 percent annual rate in the second quarter, dampened by the largest increase in imports in 26 years, the government said on Friday.
Gold held steady near $1,235 an ounce in Europe on Friday as buyers took to the sidelines ahead of key U.S. economic data due later in the session and a hotly awaited speech from Federal Reserve chair Ben Benanke.
Japan opened up its gallows to local media for the first time on Friday, a move that could spark debate in a country where the majority supports the death penalty.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke will have to address a number of pressing issues in a speech on Friday as investors search for more clarity on how close the U.S. central bank might be to another asset-buying spree to support the flagging recovery.
Stock index futures rose slightly on Friday ahead of a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and an estimate on second-quarter economic growth, which may offer clarity on how strongly a recovery is taking hold.
Stock index futures rose slightly on Friday ahead of a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and an estimate on second-quarter economic growth, which may offer clarity on how strongly a recovery is taking hold.
U.S. economic growth likely was much weaker than initially thought between April and June, hurt by surging imports and as rebuilding of business inventories softened, a government report is expected to show on Friday.
Stock index futures were slightly higher on Friday ahead of a speech from Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and an estimate on second-quarter economic growth, which may offer clarity on how strongly the recovery is taking hold.
Marketing group Aegis
reported a 19 percent increase in first-half operating profit, in line with expectations, as its market-research unit returned to profit, reaping the benefits of past cost cuts.European shares edged lower in early trade on Friday and were on track for a third straight week of losses as investors remained concerned about the pace of economic recovery after recent grim macroeconomic data.
Boeing Co said on Friday it now expects delivery of the first 787 Dreamliner in the middle of the first quarter 2011, owing to a delay in engine availability.
The FTSE 100 <.FTSE> index is seen falling on Friday, retreating after gains in the previous session, as investors awaited GDP releases from both the UK and the United States and a major speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.
Global oil prices reversed trends in Asian trade Friday and dropped below $73 a barrel as the market awaits for more clues from US Fed chairman's scheduled speech later today. Light sweet crude for October delivery was seen trading at $72.99 a barrel at 12.00 noon Singapore time while Brent crude was at $74.69 a barrel in London.
