IBT Staff Reporter

Stock index futures rose on Friday, as another batch of solid corporate results, including Microsoft and Ford, along with positive economic data in Europe eased fears about the strength of a recovery.

Jeff Wilcox, a middle-aged, clean-cut man who dresses in the Bay Area casual business attire of clean jeans, collared shirt and running shoes, may be the face of Marijuana, Inc, the corporatization of cannabis.

Stock index futures rose on Friday, as another batch of solid corporate results, including Microsoft and Ford, along with positive economic data in Europe eased fears about the strength of a recovery.

Britain's economy grew almost twice as fast as expected in the second quarter of this year propelled by a sharp pick-up in services and the biggest rise in construction in almost 50 years.

Ford Motor Co posted stronger-than-expected quarterly earnings and said it was on track to be profitable in 2010 with second half profits lower than the first half.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc told U.S. investigators which counterparties it used to hedge the risk that American International Group Inc would fail, Bloomberg said, citing three people with knowledge of the matter.

Another strong data release boosted the euro on Friday when the German Ifo index came in above forecasts, but analysts said there were downside risks for the currency, even if bank stress test results were benign. Ifo said the German Business Climate Index for July was 106.2, beating a consensus for 101.6 and pushing the euro to a session high versus the dollar of $1.2967 EUR=.

Gold rose toward $1,200 an ounce in Europe on Friday, supported by dollar weakness, as a retreat in risk aversion led to a return of the two assets' usual inverse relationship. All eyes are on the results of European bank stress tests, due at 1600 GMT. Signs of distress in the sector could lead to fresh interest in gold as a haven from risk, analysts said.

Crude drifted lower after hitting a three-month high near $80 on Friday, supported by a storm threat to U.S. Gulf oil installations but pressured by uncertainty over the result of bank stress tests in Europe. By 0943 GMT (5:43 a.m. EDT), U.S. crude for September was trading 26 cents lower at $79.04 a barrel. ICE Brent crude futures were 28 cents down at $77.54.

Ten out of the 91 banks subjected to Europe's stress tests are expected to fail, according to a survey of investors conducted by Goldman Sachs.

Several of Spain's 18 savings banks, including some that have been involved in recent mergers, have failed tests to see how they would cope with worsened economic conditions, a newspaper reported on Friday.

The euro rose on Friday after a survey showed German business sentiment posted a record jump in July to its highest level in three years, and corporate results lifted stocks ahead of European bank stress tests results.

The euro hit the day's high against the dollar and bund futures erased gains on Friday after a surprisingly strong reading of German business confidence. Germany's Ifo institute said its business climate index rose to 106.2 in July, much higher than forecasts for 101.6. The business expectations index came in at 105.5 versus expectations for 101.6.

India has come up with the world's cheapest laptop, a touch-screen computing device that costs $35.

Gold prices eased in Asian trade Friday as traders await the outcome of European bank stress test. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1194.47 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while U.S. gold futures for August delivery was at $1,194.4 an ounce on the Comex division of the NY Mercantile Exchange.

In a decision which will have a huge impact on the diamond sector across the globe, Zimbabwe announced that it will immediately auction a stockpile of more than 4.5 million carats of diamonds that it has been sitting on during the past nine months due to an international ban on trade in gems from the country's controversial Marange fields.

Crude prices slipped from an 11-week high to stay near $79 on Friday, as uncertainty about European bank stress tests and U.S. oil demand tempered a boost from positive corporate results and storm threats.

Gold slipped on Friday despite gains in equities as investors took to the sidelines before the release of European bank stress test results, which seek to restore confidence in the euro zone banking sector. Major listed lenders are expected to pass, while the tests may show the biggest problems lie with smaller, mainly unlisted players like Germany's Landesbanks and Spain's cajas.

The yen's current levels seem too high, a senior Cabinet Office official said on Friday, expressing worries over the impact a strong yen could have on Japan's fragile economy. The economy is moving toward a standstill, although views are divided on whether it has stalled, Keisuke Tsumura, a parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office, told reporters.

The euro steadied against the dollar on Friday, retaining gains made the previous day on strong euro zone data and U.S. corporate earnings, as investors awaited European bank stress test results due later in the day.

Asian stocks rose on Friday as strong earnings from economic bellwethers such as Caterpillar tempered concerns about a global slowdown, while the euro steadied ahead of European bank stress test results later in the day.

Asian stocks rose on Friday as strong earnings from economic bellwethers such as Caterpillar tempered concerns about a global slowdown, while the euro steadied ahead of European bank stress test results later in the day.

Brazil's Green Party presidential candidate is hoping her use of social media will help boost her low poll numbers before October's election as she seeks to close the gap with the two front-runners.

A U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission watchdog said on Thursday that he will expand his investigation of the agency's fraud suit against Goldman Sachs Group Inc to look into concerns raised about the timing of the firm's $550 million settlement.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Citigroup Inc are among those Obama administration pay czar Kenneth Feinberg will cite for having made ill-advised payments, the Wall Street Journal reported on its web site on Thursday.

U.S. restaurants reported mixed results on Thursday, when Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc crushed Wall Street's quarterly profit view and the Cheesecake Factory Inc missed analysts' revenue target.

The AUD has opened up over USD0.8900 this morning after a surprisingly strong night offshore last night.

Dividend payments by London-listed companies will fall 6.5 percent this year, mainly because BP suspended payouts after the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, Capita Registrars Dividend Monitor said.

After looking vulnerable to more downside in Asia yesterday the Aussie dollar found intraday support at 0.8735 going on to reverse its trajectory and rally during the European time-zone to retest what had been strong resistance around 0.8750.