MARKETS / FINANCE

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.

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

The euro fell to a two-week low on Friday of $1.48, with dealers citing options-related selling and the dollar rallying broadly as investors cut risk positions across asset markets in favour of liquidity.

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.

Britain's top share index was lower at midday on Friday, with gains in defensive pharmaceutical stocks and food producers outweighed by weakness in banks and energy stocks.

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.

Uganda's shilling UGX= fell slightly versus the dollar on Friday due to some demand for greenbacks from the telecommunications and oil sectors, traders said.

* 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.

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).

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.

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.

Google Inc on Thursday unveiled the open sourcing of the code for its Chrome operating system for personal computers, inviting developers to keep up with developments and start contributing to Chrome OS, which will hit the market by the holiday season of next year.

Progress toward tighter U.S. financial regulation faltered in the U.S. Congress on Thursday as a House committee postponed a pivotal vote and Republicans on a Senate committee aired stubborn opposition.

EBay Inc said on Thursday it had completed its sale of its Skype unit, as it had vowed to do before the end of the year.

More than 100 Chrysler Group LLC U.S. dealerships face possible closure if they cannot reach new financing deals with GMAC Financial Services or another lender, people involved in the process said on Thursday.

Senior U.S. Federal Reserve officials said on Thursday inflation is not an immediate threat as a weak economic recovery and a grim outlook for jobs keep price pressures in check.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner on Thursday defended the costly bailout of insurer AIG and urged swift regulatory reform to safeguard the economy from the failure of big financial firms.

An American International Group Inc's board meeting is expected next week against the backdrop of Chief Executive Robert Benmosche's frustration with the U.S. government's involvement in the insurer's affairs, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

General Growth Properties , the giant mall operator that filed for bankruptcy in April, said on Thursday it reached an agreement with lenders that extends maturities on 70 loans and enables the lenders to get their money back.

An American International Group Inc's board meeting is expected next week against the backdrop of Chief Executive Robert Benmosche's frustration with the U.S. government's involvement in the insurer's affairs, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

An American International Group Inc's board meeting is expected next week against the backdrop of Chief Executive Robert Benmosche's frustration with the U.S. government's involvement in the insurer's affairs, a source familiar with the matter said on Thursday.