UNITED STATES

In mid-January, a who's who of Wall Street gathered to hear Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman whose role in the White House seemed at best unclear.

Unprecedented discounts after a series of damaging recalls boosted Toyota Motor Corp's U.S. sales in early March, as U.S. regulators weighed new auto safety measures.

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France accused Washington on Friday of setting the wrong example on protectionism, suggesting there had not been a level playing field in the race for a $50 billion refueling plane contract.

Norwegian fertilizer group Yara International ASA shied away from raising its offer for Terra Industries Inc to top a rival bid, boosting its shares on Friday but scuppering U.S. expansion plans.

Major U.S. stock indices erased earlier gains to trade negative for the day. Lower than expected consumer sentiment index, a technical resistance for the S&P 500, and declining shares of drug companies pushed the market down.

Sales at U.S. retailers rose unexpectedly in February despite a drop in vehicle purchases and inclement weather that was expected to curtail shopping, according to a government report on Friday that bolstered hopes of a sustainable economic recovery.

U.S. stocks turned lower on Friday, as a weaker-than-forecast reading on consumer sentiment outweighed an unexpected increase in retail sales.

Kraft Foods Inc will be grilled by British parliamentarians next week amid claims the U.S. group backtracked on plans to keep a Cadbury plant open.

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co has filed to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange, the private equity giant said on Friday.

(Reuters) - Congressional Democrats drew closer on Thursday to agreement on a broad healthcare overhaul that could clear the way for a final vote in the next few weeks, but vowed not to be bound by White House deadlines.

(Reuters) - Several drug firms have agreed on a landmark deal to supply up to 200 million doses a year of cut-price pneumococcal vaccines to developing nations, according to the global immunization alliance that is overseeing the deal.

U.S. stock futures point toward a higher opening on Friday as U.S. retail sales beat expectations and prospects of a financial reform bill look dim.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Friday, a day after the S&P hit a 17-month closing high and as retail sales rose unexpectedly in February.

Japan faces a rocky path to launching an emissions trading system after the government approved legislation on Friday that was vague on how the scheme would set limits on emissions.

Many states have used funds from the $863 billion U.S. economic stimulus plan to help give a rising number of poor families emergency cash assistance, the Government Accountability Office said on Thursday.

Canada posted firmer-then-expected jobs growth on Friday, confirming its recovery is taking hold, with a report that raised rate hike expectations and sent the currency to its highest since July 2008.

British computer expert Peter Moore, held captive in Iraq for 2-1/2 years until his release in December, has said he was tortured and subjected to mock executions by a well-trained kidnap gang.

China-friendly Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou faces a new test of public confidence ahead of tense year-end elections after the sudden resignation of his justice minister and the health minister's threat to quit.

India signaled on Friday it was open to a new round of talks with Pakistan, raising fresh hopes of a thaw in relations after last month's official dialogue between the nuclear-armed rivals produced no breakthrough.

Top phone makers Nokia and Apple will seek a U.S. court hearing in a key patent battle in mid-2012, a court filing showed, raising the specter of a prolonged legal struggle.

An upcoming U.S.-led military campaign to regain control of the Taliban heartland of Kandahar will be a decisive phase in the Afghan war, Defense Secretary Robert Gates told frontline troops this week.