Trading has been erratic over the last week, even amid data showing improvements in housing and consumer confidence.

Japan's unemployment rate rose to a record 5.7% in July while consumer prices fell at a record pace.

Toyota pulls out of a production plant in the US it jointly owns with General Motors, the first time it has abandoned a factory.

Lord Turner, the boss of the UK's financial watchdog, says he would happily consider a bank tax to prevent excessive bonuses.

Retail giant Carrefour reports a loss for the first half of the year, largely due to problems at an Italian partner.

Spanish airline Iberia records a loss for the first half of the year after demand from business class passengers fell.

Independent News & Media reports a half-year loss and predicts no pick-up in advertising in the next six months.

Reuters - China's Tengzhong may finalize a deal with General Motors as early as next week to acquire the U.S. automaker's Hummer brand, a source familiar with the deal said on Friday.

Reuters - Getting better access to information on derivative transactions was a 'critical' factor in U.S. regulators' efforts to curb market abuses, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro told Bloomberg in an interview.

AP - Carrefour SA, the world's second-largest retailer, said Friday it made a euro58 million ($82.75 million) loss in the first half, hit by a one-off charge writing down the value of Italian assets and as recession-shy shoppers cut back on spending.

China Unicom said Friday it will sell Apple?s iPhones in China this year, ending months of rumor about when the hit phone would make its long-delayed debut in the world?s most populous mobile market.

Mobile operator China Unicom signs a deal with Apple to launch the iPhone into the world's largest mobile phone market.

The UK economy shrank by 0.7% between April and June, less than the previous estimate of a 0.8% contraction.

The US economy shrank at an annual pace of 1% between April and June, unchanged from last month's initial estimate.

A drop in advertising revenue sees newspaper group Johnston Press report half-year pre-tax losses of £94.2m.

House prices in England and Wales recorded the biggest monthly leap in value since July 2004 last month, the Land Registry says.

The cost of renting a home is rising as 'reluctant landlords' sell up in the recovering housing market, surveys suggest.

Reuters - German Chancellor Angela Merkel said her government is committed to its negotiating stance over carmaker Opel, which has strongly favored auto parts maker Magna's (MGa.TO) bid, a newspaper reported.

Reuters - Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 stock indexes are up from 0.2 to 0.4 percent, pointing to a higher start when the U.S. markets open on Friday.

Stocks rose as strong earnings from consumer goods companies and a rise in European economic confidence suggested that household spending may be picking up.

PetroChina?s net profit was $4.62 billion for the quarter as higher fuel prices in China offset the decline in crude oil.

The world?s second-largest retailer posted a $82.75 million loss in the first half, hit by a charge writing down the value of Italian assets and reduced spending by recession-shy shoppers.

The Icelandic parliament votes in favour of repaying more than $5bn (£3bn) to the governments of the UK and the Netherlands.

The governor of Nigeria's Central Bank says the country's banking system is sound following the financial scandal that has rocked the country.

House prices in England and Wales recorded the biggest monthly leap since July 2004 last month, the Land Registry says.

Workers protesting against job losses at drinks firm Diageo target a golf championship sponsored by the firm.

Reuters - Stock futures rose on Friday after a better-than expected quarterly performance from computer maker Dell Inc boosted the technology sector ahead of key U.S. consumer data.

Reuters - Tiffany & Co reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on cost cuts, and the retailer raised its full-year outlook as demand for jewelry increased, sending its shares up more than 7 percent.

Reuters - The German government said on Friday its talks with General Motors on the sale of carmaker Opel would take some time yet and made clear it still favored a bid from Canadian supplier Magna.

AP - Tiffany & Co. said Friday that its second-quarter profit fell 30 percent on lower sales, but the results beat analysts' estimates. The luxury retailer also raised its full-year earnings guidance, saying its August sales trends are meeting expectations.

Citing strong demand for its chips, Intel said it now expected sales of $8.8 billion to $9.2 billion in the current quarter.

Spending edged up in July with help from the ?cash for clunkers? program, but household incomes, the fuel for future spending increases, were unchanged.

Shares tried to extend their gains after the chipmaker Intel raised its revenue guidance for the third quarter.

The luxury retailer said that its second-quarter profit fell 30 percent on lower sales, but it raised its full-year earnings guidance, saying its August sales trends are meeting expectations.

US consumer spending rose slightly in July, helped in part by the government's 'cash for clunkers' car scrappage scheme.

Around 250 new jobs are created at East Midlands Airport after airline Jet2 announced it will have a base there from next Spring.

Reuters - Wall Street opened higher on Friday after an improved revenue forecast from Intel Corp and better-than expected quarterly profit from Dell Inc boosted the technology sector and consumer spending rose in July.

Reuters - U.S. consumer spending edged up in July, lifted by the government's 'cash-for-clunkers' program that fueled demand for autos, offering hope a rise in consumption will help fuel an economic recovery.

Reuters - U.S. consumer confidence fell to its lowest in four months in August on worries over high unemployment and dismal personal finances, though the mood managed to improve from earlier this month, a survey showed on Friday.

Reuters - Tiffany & Co posted higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on cost cuts and slightly recovering demand for jewelry, and raised its full-year outlook, sending its shares up more than 8 percent.

AP - Stocks were mixed in early trading Friday as technology shares got a boost from a rosy sales outlook from Intel Corp.

The inspector general of the Securities and Exchange Commission recommended a broad range of improvements to the agency?s oversight of the nation?s credit ratings agencies.

Iceland will repay Britain and the Netherlands the $5.7 billion it borrowed to compensate people who lost money in the collapse of an Icelandic Internet bank.

For some, the pills don?t work. And even if they do, there are more cost-effective ways to treat a problem that grows more common with age.

The luxury goods maker blamed the drop in profit on currency fluctuations and a lower rate of return on financial investments.

Argentine farmers resume strikes as part of a bitter dispute with the government over taxes on soya bean exports.

Reuters - Worries over high unemployment battered U.S. consumer confidence to a four-month trough in August, while spending rose modestly in July, indicating the economy faced a rocky road to recovery.

Reuters - Stocks gave up most of their gains on Friday after initially spiking to 10-month highs as weak consumer sentiment data offset an upbeat forecast from chipmaker Intel and better-than-expected profit from computer maker Dell.

Reuters - Whirlpool Corp said on Friday that it plans to shut a manufacturing facility in Evansville, Indiana, and move some production to Mexico next year, a change that will eliminate about 1,100 full-time U.S. positions but will not affect the company's 2009 forecast.

Reuters - A weekly measure of future U.S. economic growth slipped in the latest week, though its yearly growth rate surged to a 38-year high that suggests chances of a double-dip recession are slim.

AP - Stocks fell Friday as investors hesitated to extend the market's recent rally despite an improved outlook from Intel Corp.

Americans are generally cutting back, but new reports suggest that car rebates and tax credits for new homebuyers helped lift consumer spending in July.

The Japanese bank has hired officials from Deutsche Bank and Barclays Capital as part of an effort to expand market share in the United States.

The verdict was a victory for the largest cable company, Comcast Corp., which has 26 percent share and sued to block the rule.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Friday, pressured after a weak report on consumer sentiment outweighed some positive quarterly results and outlooks.

Reuters - Guaranty Financial Group Inc has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, less than a week after regulators seized its banking unit and sold most of its assets to the Spanish bank, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA .

Facing a $7 billion deficit, postal officials argue that as the economy rebounds, so will life-sustaining advertising mail.

After the boom and bust in real estate, home prices have basically stayed even with inflation.

The momentous Japanese election has focused surprisingly little attention on the pressing problems that threaten the world?s second largest economy.

The decision was a victory for the largest cable company, Comcast Corporation, which has 25 percent share and sued to block the rule.

Shares tried to extend their gains after the chipmaker Intel raised its revenue guidance, but fell back in late-morning trading.

News Corp's James Murdoch says that a 'dominant' BBC threatens independent journalism in the UK and also attacked the government.

Reuters - U.S. stocks mostly slipped on Friday after a weak consumer sentiment report offset positive news from bellwethers Dell Inc and Intel Corp

AP - Stocks mostly fell Friday as investors balked at extending the market's recent rally despite an improved outlook from Intel Corp.

AP - Shares of Blockbuster Inc. jumped Friday after the chain said it sold Irish entertainment retailer Xtra-vision Ltd. in a deal valued at up to $45 million.

Clients with more than $5.5 billion invested in hedge funds controlled by Cerberus Capital Management have told the secretive investment firm that they want their money back.

Albert Gonzalez, 28, was accused of helping to steal millions of credit card and debit card numbers from major retail chains.

One adviser offers a formula that helps retirees raise or lower their withdrawals depending on the performance of the stock market.

Reuters - U.S. stocks mostly slipped on Friday after a weak consumer sentiment report offset positive news from bellwethers Dell Inc and Intel Corp .

After the boom and bust in real estate, home prices have basically stayed even with inflation.

The agency?s inspector general said in a report that the commission delayed adopting new rules and failed to follow existing ones.

Sun, which is being acquired by Oracle for $7 billion, posted a net loss of $147 million, or 20 cents a share, in the fourth quarter.

Albert Gonzalez, 28, was accused of helping to steal millions of credit card and debit card numbers from major retail chains.

Iceland will repay Britain and the Netherlands the $5.7 billion it borrowed to compensate people who lost money in the collapse of an Icelandic Internet bank.

Jules Kroll plans to use his corporate intelligence skills to analyze the creditworthiness of companies, an opportunity created by the subprime mortgage crisis.

Shares tried to extend their gains after the chipmaker Intel raised its revenue guidance, but fell back in late-morning trading.

Money markets are investment vehicles, not bank savings accounts, which means (shudder) investors may sometimes lose money.

One adviser offers a formula that helps retirees raise or lower their withdrawals depending on the performance of the stock market.

Employers would have to contribute up to 35% of an employee's salary to match the public sector, a study claims.

There are still too few women working in technology in the UK, the government's digital champion Martha Lane Fox tells the BBC.

Mobile coupons ? usually text messages with discount codes sent to a cellphone ? are becoming the blue-light specials for the digital age.

Even though consumer spending rose in July, many Americans are still watching their pennies, and some said their newfound frugality would not be temporary.

The pessimism of the investors, 71 percent of those with stakes in the two Cerberus Partners funds, is another black eye for the firm.

Many makers of organic and natural foods said their credibility depended on ensuring that their products were free of genetically altered ingredients.

For some, pills like Viagra and Cialis don?t work. And even if they do, there are more cost-effective ways to treat a problem that grows more common with age.

An automaker whose success led rivals to cut jobs now does the same, at its Nummi plant in Fremont, Calif.

The companies did not give financial details or the cost of the iPhone in China, but it is expected to go on sale in the fourth quarter.

Mr. Grass helped transform a discount store in Scranton, Pa., into Rite Aid, one of the nation?s largest drugstore chains.

Criticism can teach valuable lessons, if delivered and received in a positive way. Upbringing and culture can account for great differences in one?s personal language of criticism.

Fred Wilpon, the Mets? principal owner, tried to temper concerns that he and his team have been scarred financially by the losses caused by Bernard L. Madoff?s Ponzi scheme.

Regulators shut down small banks in Maryland and Minnesota on Friday, pushing to 83 the number of bank failures this year.

Britain?s economy shrank less than previously estimated during the second quarter, supporting hopes that the country would emerge from the recession this quarter.

Falling exports caused Canada?s deficit to swell to a record high of $10.4 billion, cementing expectations that the economy contracted in the quarter.

A federal agency has sued United Parcel Service, accusing it of violating federal law by limiting workers? ability to take medical leave.

Tiffany & Company said its second-quarter profit fell but beat analysts? expectations as its steep sales decline moderated, providing a sparkle of hope in the luxury market.

Mr. Grass helped transform a discount store in Scranton, Pa., into Rite Aid, one of the nation?s largest drugstore chains.

Companies like PlaNet Finance and BlueOrchard attract not only public investors, but private ones seeking a ''double bottom line'' of socially responsible returns.

Fred Wilpon, the Mets? principal owner, tried to temper concerns that he and his team have been scarred financially by the losses caused by Bernard L. Madoff?s Ponzi scheme.

Reuters - China Investment Corp is investing as much overseas each month this year as it did in all of 2008, Lou Jiwei, the chairman of the $298 billion sovereign wealth fund, said on Saturday.