UNITED STATES

France, Britain and Germany offered some support on Friday for U.S. President Barack Obama's plan to curb banks' size and trading activities, which has stunned markets and could rewrite the world's financial order.

Chinese wind turbine company A-Power Energy Generation Systems said cost overruns at its 600-megawatt wind power project in Texas could reach $500 million and it was talking to Chinese state banks about funding the project.

U.S. stocks were set for a lower open on Friday as proposed sweeping restrictions on U.S. banks and the delayed confirmation of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke unnerved investors after a 10-month rally.

Job cuts across the technology sector were strong in 2009, according to new research, however 2010 is predicted to buck the trend with moderate growth.

General Electric Co reported earnings that topped Wall Street expectations, as it kept costs in line despite still-sluggish demand for electric turbines and other heavy equipment.

Chinese media on Friday dismissed Washington's call to lift Internet censorship, after a top Chinese diplomat warned the Obama administration to heed alarm bells over trade, Taiwan and Tibet.

With food, cash and medicine starting to flow, Haiti's government and aid workers are turning to the mammoth task of feeding and sheltering hundreds of thousands of earthquake survivors still living in the capital's rubble-strewn streets and filthy tent cities.

South Korea's foreign minister said on Friday he wants to see dormant international talks on ending North Korea's nuclear arms programme resume in February without Pyongyang attaching conditions to its return.

A meeting of four of the world's fastest-growing carbon emitters on Sunday ahead of a Jan. 31 deadline for countries to submit their action plans to fight climate change may discuss a climate fund for poorer nations.

McDonald's Corp reported higher quarterly profit on Friday as strength in international markets offset its weakening U.S. business, which is grappling with high unemployment and rampant discounting.

U.S. stock index futures fell on Friday as President Barack Obama's proposed sweeping restrictions on banks and the delayed confirmation of Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke put investors on the defensive after a 10-month rally.

U.S. Defence Secretary Robert Gates sought to build bridges with the next generation of Pakistan's military leaders on Friday and end a trust deficit he said has hampered cooperation against Islamist militancy.

The United States does not want countries to use identical airport security systems which could make it easier for potential attackers to elude them, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said on Friday.

General Electric Co reported earnings that topped Wall Street expectations, as it kept costs in line despite still-sluggish demand for electric turbines and other heavy equipment.

China hit back hard against U.S. criticism of Beijing's controls over the Internet, saying on Friday that Washington's push against online censorship could harm relations between the two big powers.

Asian stock markets skidded on Friday and commodity prices fell across the board after U.S. President Barack Obama proposed new restrictions on banks that spurred selling of risky assets.

Chinese media on Friday dismissed Washington's call to lift Internet censorship, but in a sign of the case's sensitivity the critical Chinese reports were then cut from websites.

American Express Co and Capital One Financial Corp both reported better than forecast fourth quarter earnings, but expressed concern about the growth outlook for credit cards.

Brazil will propose the creation of a joint fund with China, India and South Africa to help poor countries adapt to global warming as part of a broader attempt to revive stalled global climate talks.

After the Nasdaq composite index closed down 1.12 percent to trade at 2,265.7 and the S&P 500 index fell 2.01 percent to close at 1,116.48, Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) and several lesser known tech and financial companies reported earnings.

President Barack Obama threatened to fight Wall Street banks on Thursday with new proposals to limit financial risk taking, sending stocks and the dollar tumbling.