ECONOMY & MARKETS

Almost every major global economy showed positive momentum in the manufacturing sector during January, according to data compiled by various economic-research organizations.

There are officially some 12,000 homeless people living on the streets of the capital city of Kiev (out of a total population of about 2.6-million).

Are you living in misery in one of America’s most miserable cities?

Orange juice futures fell on Friday after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said that fungicide found in Brazilian exports were not a public threat and wouldn't affect supply.

The nation's capital has been a leader when it comes to real estate. While much of the country's housing market continues to languish, Washington D.C. and the surrounding area have seen tight inventory and price growth in recent months.

Unless you have been living under a rock for the last couple of years, you'll know that companies big or small have been constantly axing jobs across the board. Which companies are axing jobs in 2012?

Stock index futures pointed to a sharply higher open on Friday after the government reported the U.S. economy created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months, infusing optimism into markets.

European stocks were up around midday on Friday, hitting a six- month high as investors cheered data that hinted the euro zone may avoid slipping back into recession, eclipsing a disappointing start to the earnings season.

Brent crude rose above $112 on Friday as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that the Iran would retaliate over an oil embargo at the right time.

Japan's Nikkei share average fell on Friday for the first time in four days ahead of U.S. jobs data, though Sony Corp (6758.T) soared as investors hoped a new CEO would turn things around after it forecast a $2.9 billion annual loss.

The top aftermarket NYSE gainers Thursday were: Sony Corp, PerkinElmer, Genworth Financial, Covanta Holding, Neustar, Iamgold Corp, Investment Technology Group, Netsuite and Weyerhaeuser Co.

The top after-market NASDAQ gainers Thursday were: Trimble Navigation, Infinera, Zoltek Companies, Digital River, TeleCommunication Systems, On Assignment, Silicon Image, Silicon Motion Technology Corp and Gilead Sciences.

The top after-market NASDAQ Losers Thursday were: Acme Packet, Hansen Medical, Atmel, CME Group, Sigma Designs, Hot Topic, Mindspeed Technologies, Sangamo BioSciences, Cbeyond and Columbia Sportswear.

The rupee rose on Friday, supported by dollar inflows, although choppy local shares and cautious sentiment across world financial markets ahead of key U.S. jobs data capped major gains in the local currency.

Asian shares and the euro fell on Friday as debt restructuring talks between Greece and its creditors dragged on, undermining sentiment, and investors sat tight ahead of U.S. jobs data that will offer more clues on the health of the world's top economy.

The top aftermarket NYSE losers Thursday were: BHP Billiton, Robbins & Myers, Inphi Corp, Edwards Lifesciences, Greenbrier Companies, Sara Lee Corp, Griffon Corp, Stoneridge, FirstEnergy Corp and Vishay Intertechnology.

The BSE Sensex was subdued on Friday as some profit-taking emerged after the index rose more than 3 percent in the last three sessions, and as weak Asian markets ahead of key U.S. jobs data dented investor sentiment.

The Bank of America is no longer the nation's biggest mortgage servicer in the U.S., according to the latest report.

Federal prosecutors focus for first tiFederal prosecutors focus for first time on overseas bank in $1.2bn tax fraud investigation into offshore accounts.me on overseas bank in tax fraud allegations.

Asian shares and the euro fell Friday as caution set in ahead of key U.S. jobs data, which will offer more clues over the state of the world's largest economy, while Greek debt restructuring talks dragged on and undermined sentiment.

Asian shares and major currencies were stuck in ranges Friday ahead of key U.S. jobs data, which will offer more clues over the state of the world's largest economy, while Greek debt restructuring talks dragged on.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner sounded a relatively cautious note on the state of capital markets regulation reform Thursday, detailing the work various branches of the federal executive have done, what the results had been so far, and what expectations he held for 2012.

Investors largely took a wait-and-see approach on Thursday as stocks ended little changed ahead of Friday's key employment report, but tech shares rose after strong earnings from chipmaker Qualcomm.

Chrysler Group LLC will bolster its Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant with 1,800 new jobs, Fiat and Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said Thursday. About 500 of those jobs will solely focus on production of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart, which Chrysler introduced last month at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Morgan’s book delved into his troubled relationship with his mother and his father, who was a Vietnam veteran and heroin addict, who later died of AIDS.

The rupee hit a three-month high on Thursday, encouraged by gains in domestic equities, and after manufacturing data in China and Germany boosted investor appetite in high-yielding emerging market assets.

The BSE Sensex rose 0.8 percent on Thursday to its highest close in nearly three months after strong manufacturing data in India and other major economies from China to Germany eased growth concerns and bolstered risk appetite.

European shares steadied after hitting a six-month high on Thursday as strong gains in miners on merger talks between Xstrata (XTA.L) and Glencore (GLEN.L) were offset by a sell-off in defensives, with Unilever (ULVR.L) down on poor outlook.

The Dow and S&P 500 advanced for a second day on Tuesday as stronger-than-expected consumer confidence data and hopes for further progress on a solution to Europe's fiscal mess bolstered sentiment.