CHINA

The bears were on the prowl Friday, as negative economic news out of China, Spain, and the U.S. left global investors struggling to find safe places for their cash -- and the positive developments that did surface appeared to have little effect.

Months of saber rattling and diplomatic tension between Iran and the rest of the world have led to Saturday's nuclear talks, the first attempt at such negotiations since the last round fell apart 15 months ago. On Saturday, though, an unnamed diplomat told Reuters that the multilateral talks began with a completely different atmosphere than had occurred in previous meeting in early 2011.

Stocks closed their worst two-week slide since November with a selloff on Friday as disappointing China growth data sparked worries the global recovery was flagging.

Gold prices slipped below $1,670 an ounce on Friday, pausing in their biggest one-week rally since late February as the dollar firmed against key currencies, with the euro falling out of favour due to worries over Spain's financial health.

Azerbaijan plans to build the world's tallest building 3,645 feet high thanks to its vast wealth amassed from its oil revenues.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) and Wells Fargo & Co. (NYSE: WFC) beat first quarter earnings expectations Friday with the help of rising mortgage revenue, but the weak housing market could drag down future gains for the two big banks.

China has previously warned India away from exploration projects in the South China Sea.

U.S. stocks fell on Friday and were on track to end a second straight week lower as concerns about the pace of global growth sparked a selloff in financial shares.

Analysts expect quarterly revenue of $19.85 billion, which would be a bump up from the $19.73 billion Citi posted a year ago. Net income is expected to be 99 cents a share, compared with $1 a share in the first quarter of 2011.

Wall Street was on track to end the week lower on Friday as the rising cost of insuring Spanish debt against default increased worries about Europe's financial health, sparking a selloff in financial stocks.

Stocks fell on Friday on renewed concerns about the euro zone after the cost of insuring Spanish debt against default hit a new high.

Hewlett-Packard Co. (NYSE: HPQ), the No. 1 PC vendor, kept its crown in the first quarter and added share as worldwide PC shipments rose 1.9 percent, market researcher Gartner (NYSE: IT) said.

Volkswagen Group’s global first-quarter sales surpassed 2 million vehicles for the first time in the company’s history as North American and Chinese sales rose dramatically, the company announced Friday.

Failure of the satellite and rocket, launched to mark the ascendancy of Kim Jong-un and celebrate the 100th birthday of North Korea's founder, the late Kim Il-sung, sparked fears the country will pursue further launches nuclear tests.

Stocks fell Friday on disappointing Chinese economic data and renewed concerns over Spain's rising borrowing costs.

Nissan Motor Co. will invest as much as 40 billion yen, $494 million, to build a fourth Chinese factory through its joint venture with Dongfeng Motor Group Co., Nikkei reported Friday.

Stock index futures fell on Friday as concerns over Spain's rising borrowing costs resurfaced and after disappointing Chinese growth data, and banks fell after quarterly results.

Stocks were set to fall at the open on Friday as concerns over Spain's rising borrowing costs resurfaced and after disappointing Chinese growth data.

Stock index futures fell on Friday as concerns over Spain's rising borrowing costs resurfaced and after disappointing Chinese growth data, and banks fell after quarterly results.

Speculation that China's weakest quarter of annual economic growth since the global financial crisis will trigger a flood of policy support to fight the downturn misses a crucial point - the taps are already turned on.

Stock index futures fell on Friday as concerns over Spain's rising borrowing costs resurfaced and after disappointing Chinese growth data, and banks fell after quarterly results.