UNITED STATES

Google Inc is working with U.S. and European officials to build a case that would argue Internet censorship acts as a trade barrier, a top company executive said on Friday.

Two Federal Reserve officials on Friday painted divergent pictures of U.S. economic strength, suggesting a growing split at the central bank that could affect the outlook for interest rates.

Stocks rose in a late rally on Friday as a strong forecast from a chip maker lifted tech shares and helped alleviate concerns about the economy's health after an unexpected drop in retail sales.

Cellphone rivals Motorola Inc and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd have reached a technology licensing agreement, ending more than two years of litigation.

Stocks mostly fell on Friday, tracking an unexpected decline in retail sales that raised concerns about the health of consumers, a key component of the economic recovery.

Stocks mostly fell on Friday, tracking an unexpected decline in retail sales that raised concerns about the health of consumers, a key component of the economic recovery.

Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co are likely to be the lead underwriters in General Motors' initial public offering, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, a role more attractive for its prestige than its fees.

Getco LLC, a big market maker and high-frequency trader, has hired a key U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission associate in charge of crafting rules for the equity and option markets.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission said it would step up scrutiny of online security and privacy issues following recent security breaches involving Apple Inc's iPad and Google Inc's collection of private data by its Street View cars.

The Dow and the S&P 500 declined on Friday as May retail sales unexpectedly fell, though a better-than-expected read on June consumer sentiment and strength in tech lifted the Nasdaq.

Motorola Inc and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd have reached a technology licensing agreement, ending more than two years of litigation with each other, the companies said on Friday.

As investors struggle to shake fears -- fueled by European debt and U.S. unemployment -- of a double-dip recession, shareholders of FedEx Corp are looking elsewhere for signs of economic growth.

A U.S. Congressional committee investigating the recent recall of Johnson & Johnson's children's medicine is deeply concerned about the manufacturer's cooperation, a committee spokeswoman said on Friday.

A lawmaker investigating a recent recall of Johnson & Johnson's children's medicine has accused the company of stymieing the inquiry, the New York Times reported.

Sales at retailers unexpectedly fell in May for the first time since September, pulled down by a record slump in purchases of building materials, according to a government report on Friday that added to fears the economic recovery was losing some muscle.

Sales at retailers unexpectedly fell in May for the first time in eight months, but a jump in consumer sentiment to a near 2-1/2 year high in early June eased fears of a slowdown in the economic recovery.

Stocks were little changed on Friday as May sales at U.S. retailers fell unexpectedly, while a consumer sentiment index topped forecasts, offering a mixed picture of the health of the U.S. economy.

U.S. financial markets would be able to stomach gradual sales of the more than $1.4 trillion of mortgage-related debt the Federal Reserve bought to fight the credit crisis, a top Fed official said on Friday.

Gold extended gains in Europe on Friday as weaker-than-expected U.S. retail sales data brought risk aversion back to the market, pressuring stocks and the euro and boosting interest in bullion as a safe haven.

U.S. financial markets would be able to stomach gradual sales of the more than $1.4 trillion of mortgage-related debt the Federal Reserve bought to fight the credit crisis, a top Fed official said on Friday.

Mexico's peso slipped from a three-week high on Friday after an unexpected drop in May U.S. retail sales dented the outlook for Mexican exports. The peso MXN=MEX01 lost 0.36 percent to 12.7309 per U.S. dollar.