JOBS

The dollar held steady against a basket of major currencies on Friday as investors waited for the U.S. government's monthly employment report to offer clues to the potential pace of tightening in U.S. monetary policy.

European shares fell for a second straight session on Friday, led down by weak financial stocks, with trading volumes low as investors remained cautious ahead of keenly watched U.S. payrolls data later in the session.

U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher on Friday ahead of the key monthly jobs report for November.

The dollar held steady against a basket of major currencies on Friday as investors waited for the U.S. government's monthly employment report to offer clues to the potential pace of tightening in U.S. monetary policy.

Oil prices fell for a third consecutive day on Friday, to below $76 a barrel, under pressure from high levels of inventories and nervousness ahead of the latest employment data from the world's top energy consumer, the United States.

U.S. stock index futures were slightly higher on Friday ahead of the key monthly jobs report for November.

World stocks slipped slightly and the dollar was steady on Friday as investors waited for U.S. jobs data, the latest signal about how far the U.S. economy is recovering.

Asian stocks held most of the week's gains before monthly U.S. jobs data on Friday, although property and bank shares fell in many markets as soft U.S. data raised concerns about the pace of economic recovery.

President Barack Obama asked leaders in various capacities today how companies could start hiring again in opening remarks that were part of a business forum convened in Washington today.

U.S. stocks fell on Thursday after data showed the vast U.S. services sector unexpectedly shrank in November and investors worried that Friday's non-farm payrolls report may show the recovery is sluggish.

President Barack Obama on Thursday urged corporate America to help tackle the nation's highest unemployment in 26 years but also hinted at federal tax credits and aid to states to ease jobless woes.

The dollar is slightly lower against the majors in the Thursday session, drifting past the 1.51-handle versus the euro and around 0.93 against the Australian dollar. Weekly jobless claims, released earlier today was slightly better than expected, drifting lower to 457k from 466k a week earlier and besting estimates for an increase to 480k.

U.S. online job postings fell slightly in November, due to a dip in demand for health care-related positions and employers' continued unease regarding economic recovery, a private research group said on Thursday.

Democrats want increased lending to small businesses and funding for shovel ready transportation projects included in a job-creation bill they hope to pass in Congress next month to address the high U.S. unemployment rate.

A union representing workers at British confectioner Cadbury asked hostile bidder Kraft for a promise on employment security on Monday, saying it was increasingly worried about massive job losses.

Dubai, jobs data, Black Friday results and a chance for Congress to throw fireballs at Fed chief Ben Bernanke: The U.S. stock market's path to glory is fraught with peril this week.

Dubai, jobs data, Black Friday results and a chance for Congress to throw fireballs at Fed chief Ben Bernanke: The U.S. stock market's path to glory is fraught with peril next week.

Another 2,140 workers at First Quench Retailing, the group behind British off-license chains Threshers and Wine Rack, are losing their jobs after the administrator said it would close 391 more stores by Dec. 20.

U.S. stocks edged up on Wednesday after data pointed to stabilizing labor and housing markets, considered two big headwinds slowing down a recovery.

U.S. stocks rose on Wednesday, lifted by positive data on the labor market and housing sector, considered two of the biggest headwinds facing the economy.

Federal Reserve officials are increasingly confident in a durable recovery for the U.S. economy, even though they do not see employment picking up soon, according to minutes from their November meeting released on Tuesday.