With new warnings about employment levels, analysts said Wall Street may be trading sideways after a rebound from lows in early March.

Japanese companies cut their capital spending by a record level in the first quarter of 2008, a survey indicates.

Latvia's prime minister denies the country will need to devalue its currency, the lat, after the failure of a government bond sale.

The Bank of England and European Central Bank are both expected to keep interest rates on hold at their latest meetings.

Reuters - Asian equities and metals prices slipped on Thursday, after disappointing U.S. private employment and services sector data led investors to trim over extended bets and look for better points to buy again.

Reuters - Chinese state-owned metals firm Chinalco may revise its planned $19.5 billion investment in miner Rio Tinto before a June 14 deadline to avoid further delays in Australian government approval, two sources close to the deal said on Thursday.

UK car sales fell by 25% in May compared with the same month last year, the latest industry figures show.

Debenhams announces plans to raise £323m from a share sale to cut debts and reports a small drop in sales.

Supermarket chain Morrisons says it has had a good start to the financial year, with sales growth ahead of rivals.

Reuters - World equities traded close to 2009 highs on Thursday despite losses on emerging markets and investor fervor being cooled by weaker U.S. private employment and services sector data.

Asian stock markets fell Thursday after weaker-than-expected economic figures in the world's largest economy led investors to take profits from a recent advance.

France's unemployment rate rises to a two-year high as the country continues to be hit by the global recession.

Japanese companies cut their capital spending by a record level in the first quarter of 2009, a survey indicates.

Wal-Mart. the largest retailer in the US, says it expects to hire about 22,000 people as it opens or expands 150 stores.

UK house prices rose by 2.6% in May compared with April but activity remains low in the market, the Halifax says.

Reuters - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Wall Street on Thursday, following the previous session's sell-off, while investors braced for monthly sales data from retailers.

AFP - Retailers in the 16 nations using the euro saw their sales rise in April for the first time since November, according to official EU data released on Thursday.

The European Central Bank left its key interest rate on hold at 1 percent and the Bank of England kept its main rate at a record low 0.5 percent and extended its bond buying program.

The European Central Bank keeps eurozone interest rates on hold at 1%, in a widely expected move.

The Bank of England's interest rate setters have kept the cost of borrowing unchanged at 0.5% for the third month in a row.

UK car sales fell by 25% in May compared with the same month last year, the latest industry figures show.

Debenhams announces plans to raise £323m from a share sale to cut debts and reports a small drop in sales.

Kenya protests to the US over its abrupt move to cancel new commercial flights, apparently amid security concerns.

Reuters - U.S. stock index futures pointed to a flat open on Thursday, rebounding from Wednesday's decline, as investors await more economic data and monthly sales from retailers.

Reuters - Shoppers searched for bargains and basics in May, leading several retailers to miss sales expectations on Thursday even though the bar was set pretty low for most chains.

Reuters - World equities slipped on Thursday, led lower by emerging market stocks which outweighed gains in Europe.

Reuters - The prospect of a bumper plane order battle brightened a depressed outlook for plane manufacturers on Thursday as United Airlines was reported to be seeking 150 jets despite fresh warnings of industry losses.

Intel said the deal for Wind River Systems, which helps companies develop and test software, will help it expand its processor and software offerings for embedded systems and mobile devices.

Many U.S. retailers said same-store sales fell in May, as expected, as shoppers continue to spend cautiously, focusing on bargains and food.

The number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls dropped last week for the first time in 20 weeks and the tally of new jobless claims also dipped, the government said. The report provides a glimmer of good news for job seekers,

Shares were weighed down by emerging market stocks and reports that Chinalco may revise or even cancel its planned $19.5 billion investment in Rio Tinto.

Giancarlo di Risio will hand in his resignation at a board meeting Friday in Milan, according to a person close to the situation.

The European Central Bank says the eurozone economy will shrink by 4.6% in 2009, worse than an earlier forecast of 2.7%.

India's new government will focus on reviving economic growth and helping millions of poor people, the president says.

Top English clubs saw revenues reach record levels in the 2007/08 season, but wages and debt also soared, a report says.

Reuters - U.S. stocks were flat with the Dow edging lower on Thursday as consumer stocks fell after May sales at many retailers failed to meet expectations.

Reuters - Shoppers searched for bargains and basics in May, leading many retailers to miss sales expectations on Thursday even though the bar was set pretty low for most chains.

Reuters - Fewer U.S. workers filed new claims for jobless benefits for a third straight week last week and productivity rose at a stronger-than-expected pace in the first quarter, data showed on Thursday, supporting budding hope that the recession was losing force.

Reuters - Discounter Wal-Mart Stores Inc says it will add more than 22,000 jobs in its U.S. namesake stores in 2009.

Federal prosecutors are expected to indict a former executive of the investment firm formerly known as the Quellos Group as part of an investigation into the firm?s work with questionable tax shelters.

Shoppers searched for bargains and basics in May, leading many retailers to miss analysts? sales forecasts, even though the bar was set pretty low for most chains.

Shares were flat as lackluster consumer spending and data showing a fall in jobless claims and a rise in productivity offered a mixed picture of the economy.

Giancarlo di Risio is expected to resign at a board meeting Friday, according to a person close to the situation.

The European Central Bank says the eurozone economy could shrink by more than 5% in 2009, worse than previously forecast.

Shares in Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto fall 7% on speculation it is going to walk away form a $19.5bn deal with China's Chinalco.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday as financial shares gained and encouraging data on jobless claims and business productivity offset disappointing May retail sales.

Reuters - Extreme weakness in the U.S. economy is moderating but recovery will be slow and marked by lingering high unemployment, a top Federal Reserve policy-maker said on Thursday.

AP - Rates on 30-year home loans surged above 5 percent for the first time in nearly three months this week as investors pushed up rates on long-term government debt, which is closely tied to mortgage rates.

Reuters - Standish Mellon Asset Management LLC, a bond manager overseeing $55 billion, on Thursday said it would launch investments in a federal program to boost consumer and commercial mortgage debt markets.

China?s proposed $19.5 billion investment in the Australian firm could be scrapped this week, said a person briefed on the talks.

A report showing a drop in jobless claims had little impact as investors waited for the government?s monthly report on unemployment to be released on Friday.

Reuters - U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, led by financials, after RBC Capital Markets said it sees banks outperforming the market for multiple years, and energy stocks gained as oil rose almost 5 percent.

Reuters - Most retailers posted disappointing May sales as recession-weary shoppers cut spending at stores ranging from high-end chains to discounters like Target Corp , pushing down retail shares.

Reuters - Fewer U.S. workers filed new claims for jobless benefits for a third straight week last week and productivity rose faster-than-expected in the first quarter, data showed on Thursday, supporting budding hope the recession was losing force.

Latvia, the European Union member country worst hit by the economic crisis, sought Thursday to persuade investors that it would stand by its currency peg as speculation of a devaluation mounted.

Federal prosecutors are expected to indict a former executive of the investment firm formerly known as the Quellos Group as part of an investigation into the firm?s work with questionable tax shelters.

The activist investor asserts he won two seats, but the drug company said the vote was too close to call in the contentious proxy contest.

Investors are betting that improving prospects for banks and rising energy prices are signs that the economy has stabilized.

Auditors warn about the amount of refinancing needed by Liverpool's US owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Thursday as a brokerage's upbeat view on U.S. banks drove a run-up in financials, while soaring prices of oil and other commodities lifted shares of natural resource companies.

Reuters - Biogen Idec Inc said on Thursday a preliminary count from its annual meeting showed one representative from dissident shareholder Carl Icahn's slate was elected to the board.

Reuters - A growing team of Fiat SpA executives and engineers has been working at Chrysler's Detroit-area headquarters this week, finalizing plans to cut costs and ready the Fiat 500 small car for the U.S. market, people with knowledge of the work said.

AP - The government is charging Angelo Mozilo, the former chief executive of mortgage lender Countrywide Financial Corp., and two other company executives with civil fraud.

Reuters - Countrywide Financial Corp co-founder Angelo Mozilo and two other former executives at the once-largest U.S. mortgage lender were sued by U.S. stock regulators on Thursday, a Securities and Exchange Commission official said.

The former chief, Angelo R. Mozilo, is the highest-profile person to face charges in the wake of the financial crisis.

China?s proposed $19.5 billion investment in the Australia?s Rio Tinto could be scrapped this week, said a person briefed on the talks.

A study indicates that billions of dollars American companies brought back from foreign subsidiaries at a lower tax rate went to stock buybacks and dividends, contrary to Congressional intent.

The former chief executive of Countrywide Financial Angelo Mozilo is charged with civil fraud and insider trading.

Reuters - Stocks rose on Thursday as a brokerage's upbeat view on U.S. banks drove a run-up in financials, while soaring prices of oil and other commodities lifted natural resource companies on bets the economic slump is waning.

Reuters - Countrywide Financial Corp co-founder Angelo Mozilo and two other former executives at the once-largest U.S. mortgage lender were sued by U.S. stock regulators on Thursday.

AP - Bond yields are heading higher again, a troubling trend for potential homebuyers or mortgage holders looking to refinance.

Angelo R. Mozilo faces charges of misleading investors about lending practices involving subprime mortgages.

The European Central Bank left its key interest rate on hold at 1 percent and the Bank of England kept its main rate at a record low 0.5 percent and extended its bond buying program.

Federal prosecutors are expected to indict a former executive of the investment firm formerly known as the Quellos Group as part of an investigation into the firm?s work with questionable tax shelters.

The number of people on the unemployment insurance rolls dropped last week for the first time in 20 weeks and the tally of new jobless claims also dipped, the government said.

The company will look outside for a successor to Ramani Ayer, who has been under fire after billions of dollars in losses.

The activist investor asserts he won two seats in the contentious proxy contest, but the drug company said the vote on the second seat was too close to call.

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto halts trading in its shares, as an announcement is awaited on a deal with Chinalco.

Venezuela prepares to nationalise petrochemical projects as part of Hugo Chavez's campaign to reduce the private sector.

Recession send Bangladeshi workers home

Is there a solid basis for the stock market rally?

Reuters - Angelo Mozilo, who built the largest U.S. mortgage lender, was charged with securities fraud and insider trading on Thursday, making him the most prominent defendant so far in investigations into the U.S. subprime mortgage crisis and housing bust.

AP - FORMER COUNTRYWIDE CEO CHARGED: The government has accused Angelo Mozilo and two other former executives of the fallen mortgage lender of civil fraud and insider trading. The three dispute the civil charges by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

In defeating a change in bankruptcy law, the banking industry showed its struggles would not stop it from protecting its interests.

A 40-year career in the restructuring business was a warm-up act for Albert Koch of AlixPartners.

Despite some successes, deals involving state and local infrastructure are slowing, in part because of the financial crisis and the economic stimulus package.

At next week?s Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple?s support among fans and developers will be tested. The iPhone is facing new competition, and computer sales have stalled.

Global miner Rio Tinto scrapped its proposed $19.5 billion tie-up with Chinese firm Chinalco on Friday and instead launched a heavily discounted $15.2 billion right issue.

Despite the blame given to them for the mortgage collapse, Moody?s and others still seem to have the confidence of the financial industry.

Investors were expecting a devaluation a day after the country was unable to sell short-term debt.

Microsoft plans to promote Bing, its new search engine, by weaving references to it into TV programs like ?Late Night With Jimmy Fallon? and with an hourlong program on Hulu.

Declining sales and clashes with Donatella Versace, sister of the late Gianni Versace and the creative director of the company, are believed to be the reasons.

Upscale stores continued to struggle, while Americans spent on necessities and not much else.

Wind River Systems brings Intel expertise in coding for a variety of electronic devices, and a stable of potential customers for Intel chips.

A study indicates that billions of dollars U.S. companies brought back from foreign subsidiaries at a lower tax rate went to stock buybacks and dividends.

Reuters - General Motors Corp will give more than $2.5 billion of the $3.6 billion needed for Platinum Equity to gain control of bankrupt car parts supplier Delphi Corp , the Wall Street Journal said, citing a source.

Reuters - Global miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton said on Friday they will combine their major Australian iron ore operations, scuppering a $19.5 billion bid by China's Chinalco to secure a stake in Rio and long-term access to its key ore supplies.

The officer the bank replaced, Amy Woods Brinkley, was one of the highest ranking women on Wall Street. More board members may depart in coming weeks.

The insurer is seeking the return of the stock held by a company controlled by the insurer?s former chief.

Taxpayers are justified in feeling envious of the information provided when publicly listed companies do deals.

Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto scraps a deal with China's Chinalco in favour of a tie-up with rival BHP Billiton.

Reuters - Global miner Rio Tinto dumped plans for a $19.5 billion tie-up with China's Chinalco and agreed to set up an iron ore joint venture with rival BHP Billiton and sell new shares to slash debt.

AP - Angelo Mozilo, the man who rode the housing boom to build Countrywide Financial Corp. into a California collossus of high-risk mortgage lending, has been charged with civil fraud and illegal insider trading by federal regulators who accuse him of deceiving shareholders and profiting on confidential information.