UNITED STATES

U.S. stocks rose on Friday after employment notched a second straight month of solid gains while the jobless rate fell to a two-year low.

Payroll gains in the US private sector for February and March 2011 is the largest since early 2006.

Floundering hipster brand American Apparel posted a loss of $86 million in 2010, and said it may have to file for bankruptcy protection if it did not manage to get enough funds to keep going, a filing dated March 31 said.

Oil prices cut back gains of over a dollar on Friday after stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs data indicated the improving economic recovery of the world's largest oil importer was firmly on track, boosting the dollar.

U.S. stocks advanced in early trade on Friday following better-than-expected monthly non-farm payrolls and unemployment data.

Spot Gold slumped 1.4% lunchtime Friday in London, falling back from its highest-ever monthly close as the Dollar jumped on news of stronger-than-expected US jobs hiring in March.

Corrects last paragraph. More than one percent, not more than a tenth

U.S. stocks rose on Friday after employment notched a second straight month of solid gains while the jobless rate fell to a two-year low.

Upon completion of the four-year program offered by the Yale-NUS College, students will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts or Science (Honours) from the Yale-NUS College, awarded by NUS.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Friday as employment notched a second straight month of solid gains while the unemployment rate fell to a two-year low.

Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent crude nearing $118, as investors anticipated U.S. payrolls data later in the session will confirm the improving economic outlook of the world's largest oil importer.

The number of people employed in the non-farming businesses in the US rose more than expected in March, showing that economic recovery in the nation is on track.

U.S. stock index futures were higher on Friday ahead of an employment report expected to show that the economy continued to add jobs.

Stock index futures pointed to gains on Friday, rebounding from the previous session's falls, as optimism gathered pace that a key labor market report will confirm the view that the economy was on a solid path to recovery.

U.S. stocks ended mixed on Thursday as investors awaited Friday’s Bureau of Labor Statistics jobs report, while slightly weaker-than-expected economic reports on jobless claims and Chicago Purchasing Managers index weighed on the sentiment.

As the world keep a close eye on the earthquake-crippled Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in Japan, US Department of Energy has released Japan's radiological assessment results.

Oil prices rose on Friday, with Brent nearing $118, as investors anticipated U.S. payrolls data later in the session will confirm the improving economic outlook of the world's largest oil importer.

Prominent U.S. lawmakers tore into the plan of the administration to withdraw from air attacks in Libya, saying the decision was “odd”, “troubling” and “unnerving”, according to reports.

U.S. forces will significantly dilute their role in Libya though they played crucial role in the first phase of Operation Odyssey Dawn, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates told the House Armed Services Committee.

The heads of bailed-out mortgage finance giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were paid fat salaries without proper written procedures or analysis, according to a report published by the Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA-OIG).

Morgan Stanley , Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase & Co will soon join Citigroup and Bank of America Corp in allowing shareholders to vote on executive compensation, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.