INVESTMENT

Libya's National Oil Corporation has summoned Russia's Gazprom to a meeting in Tripoli to discuss what the Libyans said was a breach of investment obligations -- the first sign the new leaders are prepared to renegotiate Gaddafi-era contracts.

For the small club of companies who trade the food, fuels and metals that keep the world running, the last decade has been sensational. Driven by the rise of Brazil, China, India and other fast-growing economies, the global commodities boom has turbocharged profits at the world's biggest trading houses.

If Thomas Hoenig, retired chairman of Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, becomes the new vice chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, will the era of big banks come to an end?

Carl Icahn wants Navistar to consider merging with rival Oshkosh, though he has not yet made a formal proposal to either company.

Saab moved closer to collapse on Friday after a planned rescue by Chinese investors was thrown into doubt and a court-appointed administrator moved to lift the Swedish carmaker's protection from bankruptcy claims.

It is the low-income nations in the continent, like Tanzania, which are exhibiting the strongest growth.

Mongolia's Supreme Court has ordered the government to enforce a ban on mining in river and forest areas following an appeal submitted by activists who said the country's fragile environment was threatened by reckless mining.

Muammar Gaddafi was killed after being captured by the Libyan fighters he once scorned as rats, cornered and shot in the head after they overran his last bastion of resistance in his hometown of Sirte.

Asian shares inched up while the euro clung to overnight gains on Friday, but markets largely stayed within range, as investors awaited a weekend meeting of European leaders for signs of progress in resolving the region's debt crisis.

Liquidnet Inc, a U.S. venue where institutions anonymously trade public stocks, was sued by Wedbush Securities Inc for allegedly stealing trade secrets to start a rival business trading shares of private companies.

The New York Yankees have scouted 25-year-old Japanese pitching sensation Yu Darvish and are open to bidding for the 6'5'', 220-pound right-hander if he goes through the posting process that's required for his early entry into Major League Baseball.

Railroad company's third-quarter net profit rose 16% to $904 million from a year ago as revenues also clocked a 16% gain to hit a record $5.1 billion.

South Africa's rand tumbled 2.5 percent to a two week low against the dollar on Thursday, falling quickly in the last hour of trading when stop losses were triggered above the 8.15 level by new complications over Europe's debt problems.

Tanzania's mining sector grew only slowly this year due to uncertainty over government policies, a prolonged energy crisis and infrastructure constraints, a senior mining official said on Thursday.

Tethyan Copper, a joint venture of London-listed copper miner Antofagasta Plc and Canada's Barrick Gold Corp , has filed a notice of dispute with Pakistan's Baluchistan province over its Reko Diq mine.

Kenyan and Somali troops advanced on an Islamist-held town in southern Somalia on Thursday and African Union peacekeepers moved on one of the last pockets under militant control in the capital Mogadishu.

Stocks fell on Thursday as investors grappled with uncertainty surrounding the upcoming European summit on the debt crisis and sought direction from earnings reports from U.S. companies.

Large European private equity buyouts are on hold until capital markets revive, which is unlikely to happen this side of Christmas as leveraged loan and high-yield bond markets remain weak, bankers said on Thursday.

The Internet media firm recorded third-quarter earnings of $0.36 per share as revenue rose 40% to $38.7 million, topping estimates.

Ford said the labor pact with United Auto Workers union would cost $280 million in lump-sum payments in 2011, and average about $80 million annually for remainder period through 2015.

Microsoft is reportedly working on a deal to acquire Yahoo, three years after its initial acquisition offer of $44 billion was turned down.