IBT Staff Reporter

The dollar was on the back foot against the euro and slipped against the Aussie on Friday after a big euro short squeeze ahead of U.S. jobs data, while the yen lost ground all round as the squeeze spilled into Asian trade.

The euro rallied to a five-week high above $1.25 on Thursday, while the dollar fell broadly after disappointing data heightened worries the U.S. economic recovery is stalling. Concerns about euro zone debt and liquidity problems eased further on Thursday after Spain successfully sold 3.5 billion euros of a five-year bond, adding to positive sentiment a day after European banks borrowed less money than expected from a European Central Bank tender.

Gold prices rebounded in Asian trade Friday mainly on bargain buying and euro's recovery against the dollar. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $ 1206.39 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while U.S. gold futures for August delivery was at $1,207.3 an ounce.

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The Bank of Japan is expected to revise up its economic forecast for the year to March 2011 at its next policy meeting on July 14-15, the Nikkei newspaper reported on Friday.

Toyota Motor Corp may recall up to 270,000 vehicles worldwide to fix an engine glitch, with Japan's Asahi newspaper reporting the move could cost the car maker up to 20 billion yen ($228 million).

Google Inc plans to buy one of the Web's key providers of airline travel software for $700 million, potentially raising new antitrust concerns for the world's largest Internet search engine.

Sales of video game software and equipment in the United States fell 5 percent in May, industry tracker NPD said on Thursday, dragged down by sagging demand for game consoles.

Toyota Motor Corp plans to recall up to 270,000 vehicles at a cost of up to 20 billion yen ($228 million), Japan's Asahi newspaper reported on Friday.

A slightly lower than forecast 0.2% May Retail Sales result coupled with a 6.6% fall in Building Approvals for the same month saw the Aussie dollar momentarily dip below 0.8320 during yesterday's local session.

The AUD has opened slightly firmer today after it was announced the government and the mining industry had reached a deal on the new profits tax late yesterday.

Digital market research firm ComScore Inc acquired the products division of Nexius Inc, a provider of network analysis focused on the experience of wireless subscribers, to strengthen its product line-up targeted at wireless carriers.

Tropical storm Alex slowed oil spill clean-up and containment work in the Gulf of Mexico and drove more petroleum into fragile Gulf wetlands and beaches on Thursday, with any permanent fix to BP Plc's ruptured deep-sea well still several weeks away.

Dell Inc said on Thursday it agreed to acquire privately held Scalent, a maker of data center software, for an undisclosed amount.

Blockbuster Inc on Thursday said it plans to begin the process of delisting from the New York Stock Exchange, after shareholders rejected a proposed reverse stock split intended to keep its price at acceptable trading levels.

Toyota Motor Corp officials in the United States said on Thursday that an internal investigation will be completed next week into possible stalling of Lexus engines, but they did not say whether the cars will be recalled.

Google Inc has agreed to buy travel industry search-provider ITA Software for $700 million in cash, twinning its dominance in Internet search with ITA's widely used technology.

U.S. auto sales slipped in June from the previous month and major automakers said there was no sign of the second-half recovery the battered industry had expected at the start of the year.

U.S. jobless numbers likely fell in June for the first time this year, a Reuters poll showed. The key monthly unemployment report will be released on Friday.

American International Group Inc Chief Executive Robert Benmosche and Chairman Harvey Golub, at odds over a botched sale of the company's Asian life unit, have agreed to work out their differences, a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday.

New claims for U.S. jobless benefits unexpectedly rose last week, while growth in the manufacturing sector slowed in June, heightening fears the country's economic recovery was stalling.

The United States, seeking to modernize technology and reduce costs, is embracing cloud computing, but privacy and security issues need to be ironed out during a decade-long transition, U.S. officials said on Thursday.

Airbus and Boeing clashed over aid for the next generation of European passenger jets on Thursday, while details emerged on the battleground for possibly lengthy appeals following a major trade ruling on aircraft subsidies.

American International Group Inc Chief Executive Robert Benmosche and Chairman Harvey Golub, at odds since a botched sale of the company's Asian life unit, will try to work out their differences, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday.

Auto sales slipped in June from the previous month's pace and major automakers said there was no sign of the definitive second-half recovery that the battered industry had expected at the start of the year.

Big brokerages are working to boost banking and lending services to their clients, eager for new revenue to offset the squeeze from volatile markets and nervous clients clinging to low-margin bond and cash funds.

Global carmakers are braced for a slide in second half sales as scrappage schemes are phased out and cautious consumers pull back from big-ticket buys in the face of economic uncertainty.

Goldman Sachs officials insisted demands for billions of dollars from insurer AIG ahead of a $182-billion government rescue package were based on legitimate market prices and denied gaming values for a massive payout.

Apple Inc has been sued by iPhone customers in at least three complaints related to antenna problems on its newest model.