UNITED STATES

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a lower open on Friday after worse-than-expected quarterly results from computer maker Dell and homebuilder D.R. Horton underscored that the road to recovery would not be smooth.

Big shareholders at Goldman Sachs have asked the U.S. bank, which is on track to pay out the biggest bonuses in the company's history, to pass more profit to investors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Big shareholders at Goldman Sachs have asked the U.S. bank, which is on track to pay out the biggest bonuses in the company's history, to pass more profit to investors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

Budget shortfalls pose a direct threat to millions of U.S. jobs, many in the private sector, as state and local governments lay off workers and cut spending on contracts and other business services, a think tank said on Thursday.

D.R. Horton Inc , the No. 2 U.S. homebuilder, reported a narrower fourth-quarter loss, mainly helped by lower charges.

Bankers and regulators should learn the lessons of the global financial crisis and drive through changes to prevent future breakdowns, financiers said on Friday.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday, as a stronger U.S. dollar weighed on commodities and natural resource stocks and weak results from computer maker Dell and homebuilder D.R. Horton underscored the rocky road to an economic recovery.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday, as a stronger U.S. dollar weighed on commodities and natural resource stocks and weak results from computer maker Dell and homebuilder D.R. Horton underscored the rocky road to an economic recovery.

The dollar rose on Friday, extending the previous day's gains as investors retreated from riskier assets, taking the shine off higher-yielding currencies such as the Australian dollar.

General Electric and Vivendi are at least $1 billion apart in their valuation of the French group's stake in NBC Universal, the Financial Times said, dampening hopes of a swift sale.

European shares fell for a fourth consecutive session on Friday, with banks retreating from earlier gains and energy stocks falling after crude CLc1 prices slipped.

U.S. stock index futures were lower on Friday, a day after Dell Inc reported weaker-than-expected third-quarter sales, underlining concerns about the strength of technology sector.

*U.S. stock index futures were lower on Friday, a day after Dell Inc (DELL.O) reported weaker-than-expected third-quarter sales, underlining concerns about the strength of technology sector.

* U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 SPc1 down 0.04 percent, Dow Jones DJc1 futures down 0.04 percent and Nasdaq 100 NDc1 futures up 0.07 percent at 1010 GMT.

Cadbury suitors Ferrero and Hershey would likely break the UK confectioner up into separate businesses if a mooted bid for the company succeeds, an Italian newspaper reported.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a mixed open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.04 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.04 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.07 percent at 1010 GMT (5:10 a.m. EST).

China's government appears increasingly to be piercing U.S. government and defense industry computer networks to gather useful data for its military, a congressional advisory panel said on Thursday.

Financial markets saw a rare breakdown in correlations on Friday with world stocks eking out modest gains after the previous sessions losses but the dollar strengthening.

Some of Goldman Sachs Group Inc's largest shareholders have asked the company to cut the size of its bonus pool and pass along more of its profits to investors, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

Italian chocolate maker Ferrero could be interested in Cadbury's gum and candy division, a unit worth about 5 billion euros ($7.4 billion), in a possible joint takeover bid, business daily Il Sole 24 Ore said on Friday.

Supermarket mogul Ron Burkle and his investment arm, Yucaipa, have purchased a large amount of U.S. luxury retail chain Barneys New York's debt, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.