MARKETS / FINANCE

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Saturday it was too early to start withdrawing stimulus for the world's top economies, but governments should pledge a return to more sustainable fiscal policies in the future.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said on Saturday it was too early to start withdrawing stimulus for the world's top economies, but governments should start to outline plans for future fiscal sustainability.

BlackRock Inc , the fund manager that has been one of the biggest winners of the credit crunch, has snapped up Barclays Global Investors for $13.5 billion in a deal creating the world's largest money manager.

Chief White House Economic Adviser Lawrence Summers said on Friday that government intervention was only temporary and that the government was by no means trying to take over business.

The Dow moved into positive territory for the year for the first time since early January on Friday, lifted by defensive sectors like pharmaceuticals while a disappointing outlook from National Semiconductor weighed on technology stocks.

The U.S. Treasury Department is facing mounting pressure to ensure that taxpayers get a fair return on banks' warrants as the largest firms prepare to shake off government ownership stakes.

With the drive for U.S. financial regulation reform at a critical turning point, Barney Frank has to be asking himself by now:Where's the $6,000 shower curtain?

Technology shares pushed the Nasdaq lower on Friday after National Semiconductor's disappointing outlook, but a climb in defensive sectors like pharmaceuticals lifted the Dow industrials and S&P 500.

The rapid rise in bond yields will force the Federal Reserve to engage again in the purchases of U.S. Treasuries and mortgage-backed securities, Mohamed El-Erian, the chief executive of bond giant Pacific Investment Management Co., said Friday.

A rise in defensive sectors like pharmaceuticals pushed the Dow and S&P 500 higher on Friday, while technology shares dragged on the Nasdaq after National Semiconductor's disappointing outlook.

South Africa's National Union of Metal Workers (NUMSA) is taking the local arm of General Motors (GMSA) to court over job losses it says are linked to the parent company's financial woes, the union said on Thursday.

Chief White House economic adviser Lawrence Summers on Friday vigorously defended the administration's aid for banks and carmakers as necessary, temporary measures rather than lasting market intrusions.

Oil eased toward $72 a barrel on Friday, a day after reaching a near eight-month high, pressured by a firmer dollar and views that prices have risen too far despite improving economic sentiment.

U.S. consumer confidence rose to a nine-month high in June, a survey showed on Friday, but inflation gauges showed worrisome signs of price increases that could slow any recovery from the longest recession since the Great Depression.

Technology shares led Wall Street's drop on Friday after National Semiconductor's disappointing results, but a rise in defensive sectors like healthcare limited losses in the Dow and S&P 500.

The two primary watchdogs of the U.S. financial bailout program are studying whether taxpayers will get a fair return on banks' warrants as the largest firms repay government investments, according to a letter sent to lawmakers this week.

The two primary watchdogs of the U.S. financial bailout program are studying if taxpayers will get a fair return on banks' warrants as the largest firms repay government investments, according to a letter sent to lawmakers this week.

Oil fell below $72 a barrel on Friday, a day after reaching a near eight-month high, pressured by a firmer dollar and views that prices have risen too far despite improving economic sentiment.

U.S. consumer confidence rose to a nine-month high in June but failed again to surpass its level of September 2008, when the spectacular failure of Lehman Brothers sent the world economy into a tailspin, a survey showed on Friday.

Technology shares fell on Friday after disappointing results from National Semiconductor, but a rise in defensive stocks, like healthcare, cushioned losses in the Dow and S&P 500.

Oil fell below $72 a barrel on Friday, a day after reaching a near eight-month high, pressured by a firmer dollar and views that prices have risen too far despite improving economic sentiment.

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc said it will take as much as $3.4 billion of federal bailout money and sell up to $750 million of common stock to bolster capital after large losses on investments.

Hartford Financial Services Group Inc said it will take as much as $3.4 billion of federal bailout money and sell up to $750 million of common stock to bolster capital after large losses on investments.

BlackRock, Inc announced it has agreed to buy Barclays Global Investors from Barclays Plc in a $12.9 billion cash and stock deal to create an the world’s largest asset management firm with combined assets of over $2.7 trillion.

U.S. import prices rose 1.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on Friday, but the gain was powered by petroleum prices and underlying import price pressures were more muted.

Australian Dollar: Cool winter winds may be blowing in Sydney but the Australian dollar is on fire at the moment and opens on Friday at 0.8190.

BlackRock has agreed to buy Barclays Global Investors to create the world's biggest asset manager in a $13.5 billion deal that British bank Barclays hopes will put to rest concerns about its capital.

Several big banks bailed out by U.S. taxpayers are expected to begin repaying their government debt next Wednesday, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter.

Oil fell below $72 a barrel on Friday, a day after reaching a near eight-month high, pressured by a firmer dollar and views that prices have risen too far despite improving economic sentiment.