MARKETS / FINANCE

Stocks were set for a slightly lower open on Friday after GE and Google results fell short of expectations and as investors looked for a resolution in the latest round of Greek debt talks.

Prime Minister Viktor Orban abandoned plans on Friday to merge Hungary's central bank and markets regulator, the first concrete evidence that he is backing down in a dispute with the European Union that threatens to block a deal on financial aid.

Stock index futures dipped on Friday, indicating the S&P 500 may snap a three-day win streak after GE and Google results fell short of expectations and as investors eyed Greek debt talks for signs of progress.

European banks are preparing for a potential worsening of the region's sovereign and banking crisis, with many firms stockpiling cash and cutting back on loans to new clients as they seek to protect themselves against a possible seizing-up of financial markets.

In the five years since Mexican president Felipe Calderon began to use the military to combat the country's powerful drug cartels, some 50,000 people have been killed. With people being murdered in the country nearly every day, how is the violence affecting Mexico's tourism industry?

Greece and its private bondholders drew closer on Friday to a bond swap deal that would prevent the country from sinking into a chaotic default and ease the euro zone's debilitating debt crisis.

Gingrich exploded at CNN's John King for opening the debate with questions about his ex-wife, Santorum stepped up to the plate, Romney floundered and Paul desperately tried to get attention. How did the four candidates measure up?

Gold prices edged lower Friday as an increasingly stronger dollar made the metal more expensive for non-U.S. buyers and some investors decided to book profits on what is shaping up to be a robust start to the year.

China is intensifying its cat-and-mouse pursuit of the 4 trillion yuan ($635 billion) investment trust industry, with credit risks on the rise as economic growth slows.

Italy's goal of refinancing some 90 billion euros of long-term debt by the end of April is beginning to look within reach after months when the weight of its debt burden looked likely to tip the euro zone even deeper into crisis.

Greece and its private bondholders resume debt swap talks on Friday amid signs they are inching closer to a long-awaited deal needed to prevent a chaotic default by Athens.

U.S. venture capitalists opened their wallets a bit wider in the last quarter of 2011 than a year ago, but they're not quite as flush as their largesse would indicate.

China's factory activity likely fell for a third successive month in January, suggesting Beijing's pro-growth policies will remain in place despite early signs that the downward drift is slowing, a survey of purchasing managers showed on Friday.

Eastman Kodak Co, the photography icon that invented the hand-held camera, has filed for bankruptcy protection and plans to shrink significantly, capping a prolonged plunge for one of America's best-known companies.

The top Senate Republican urged Democrats on Thursday to set aside a bill aimed at stopping online piracy of movies and music, dealing yet another blow to controversial legislation that has pitted Hollywood against tech companies.

A major Internet content hosting website, Megaupload.com, its founders and several employees have been charged by U.S. authorities for a massive copyright infringement scheme, the latest skirmish in a battle against piracy of movies and music.

Moody's Investors Service, the credit rating agency of Moody's Corp , warned on Thursday that it is likely to make further cuts in credit ratings of many European banks and global investment banks.

Amazon.com Inc's highly anticipated entrance into India's retail market may be limited to operating an online marketplace for other merchants, the Times of India reported Thursday.

The South Carolina primary is on Saturday, and only four candidates -- Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum -- remain. Here are five things to look for when the results come in.

Google Inc's quarterly results fell short of Wall Street's heightened expectations for the holiday season as Europe's economic malaise weighed, triggering a 9 percent slide in its shares.

Google Inc's shares fell 10 percent in after hours trading on Thursday after the Internet search giant missed Wall Street's revenue targets.

Gold for February delivery, the most actively traded contract on the Comex, fell $9 to settle at $1650.9 an ounce. Early in the day, the price hit a fresh five-week high.

Google Inc's net revenue jumped more than 27 percent in the fourth quarter but fell short of Wall Street targets, sending shares down sharply in after hours trading on Thursday.

The number of Americans filing for new jobless benefits dropped to an almost four-year low last week, and factory activity in the mid-Atlantic expanded moderately, suggesting the economy carried some momentum into the new year.

Stocks rose for the third straight day on Thursday, sparked by results from Bank of America and Morgan Stanley and as the latest jobless claims dropped to a near four-year low.

Bank of America Corp may give shares worth $1 billion to employees instead of cash as part of bonuses and hold back on dividend increases and buybacks, as the second-largest U.S. bank grasps for ways to boost its capital levels.

The number of Americans filing for new jobless benefits dropped to a near four-year low last week and factory activity in the mid-Atlantic expanded moderately, suggesting the economy carried some momentum into the new year.

Russian miner Norilsk Nickel is expecting to reduce production this year to adapt to a slight fall in global metals demand, its CEO said on Thursday, but does not see a slump into another global economic crisis.

The world economy will lose momentum in 2012 but it will keep moving in the right direction, according to Reuters polls of around 600 economists who said crisis-hit Europe would drag on global growth.