UNITED STATES

The dollar was on the defensive and Japan stocks fell after weak U.S. jobless claims figures heightened worries that Friday's payroll data could paint a bleak picture of the U.S. economic recovery.

Crude oil prices were steady on Friday near $82 before a report expected to show U.S. employment declined for a second straight month in July, as investors watch for clues to the pace of economic and energy demand recovery.

The dollar was on the defensive near a 3- month low against a basket of currencies after weak U.S. jobless claims figures heightened worries that Friday's payroll data could paint a bleak picture of the U.S. economic recovery. A weak reading could fuel talk that the Federal Reserve may consider additional easing steps as early as next week, which could put pressure on the dollar particularly against the yen, given the pair's recent strong correlation with U.S. Treasury yields.

The AUD traded quietly overnight, within its recent range as investors remained sidelined ahead of US payrolls data tonight.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc is considering two options for its main proprietary trading group as it tries to comply with a new U.S. financial reform law, sources familiar with the process said.

In a world of monster fiscal deficits, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has a luxury problem: The strong economy is pushing up his currency.

The Pentagon demanded on Thursday that whistle-blower web site WikiLeaks immediately hand over about 15,000 secret Afghan war records it had not yet published and erase material it had already put online.

Cable television companies wooed home Internet users from rivals in the second quarter, helping offset a trend that has seen their television customers flee to top satellite player DirecTV Group.

U.S. cable television companies wooed home Internet users from rivals in the second quarter, helping offset a trend that has seen their television customers flee to top satellite player DirecTV Group.

Chevron Corp urged a federal appeals court not to force it into Ecuador's courts to defend a $27.4 billion lawsuit alleging its oilfields polluted the Amazon rainforest and sickened thousands of Ecuadorians.

Mortgage rates fell in the past week to the latest in a series of record lows amid concerns about the state of the economy, according to a survey released on Thursday by Freddie Mac.

Gold retreated on Thursday, easing from earlier highs near $1,200 an ounce, as the dollar pared losses against the euro after Wall Street equities opened lower in jittery trade ahead of Friday's U.S. payrolls data.

A group of investors including the two largest U.S. public pension funds asked 27 top oil and gas companies on Thursday to disclose what they have done to make their offshore drilling safer in the wake of the BP oil spill.

The dollar was little changed against the euro on Thursday, as investors squared positions ahead of a U.S. payrolls report that markets hope will offer fresh insight on the state of the U.S. economy. Strong German industrial data and signs that Spain and Greece were making progress in trimming budget deficits earlier lifted the euro, as did data showing U.S. initial jobless claims unexpectedly rose in the latest week.

New claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly rose last week to the highest level since early April, highlighting a weak labor market and the fragile economic recovery.

Stocks slipped on Thursday after an unexpected rise in first-time claims for jobless benefits underscored concerns that the recovery in the labor market will be slow.

The U.S. Export-Import Bank said on Thursday it approved a loan guarantee for Ford Motor Co to finance $3.1 billion in exports of cars and trucks to customers in Canada and Mexico.

Germany's luxury carmaker BMW expects its China car sales to rise more than 30 percent this year, boosted by the country's robust economic growth

India's Mahindra & Mahindra is planning bid up to $400 million for troubled South Korean automaker Ssangyong Motor, sources said, as it seeks to become a major global utility vehicles maker.

It is too early to declare victory over the financial crisis despite stronger than expected data suggesting the euro zone recovery is outstripping expectations, the European Central Bank said on Thursday.

Time Warner Cable Inc posted a higher-than-expected second-quarter profit on Thursday after adding more Internet and phone subscribers.