UNITED STATES

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 up 0.1 percent, Dow Jones futures up 0.1 percent and Nasdaq 100 futures up 0.04 percent at 4.10 a.m. EST.

Global stocks advanced on Friday, anticipating an improvement in all-important U.S. monthly jobs data, while the dollar fell from a four-month high against the yen after Japan's new finance minister backed off his call for a weaker currency. Crude oil prices dipped, extending losses the previous day on worries about tighter Chinese monetary policy. Safe-haven government bonds were mostly steady. ...

India's Reliance Industries Ltd has sweetened its offer to buy a controlling stake in LyondellBasell Industries that

Former NBC Entertainment Co-Chairman Ben Silverman's Electus production house will develop and produce content for Yahoo Inc in a deal that will likely be announced later on Friday, the New York Times said on its website.

Japanese stocks hit a 15-month high on Friday as the yen eased against the dollar, leading most Asian markets higher, but Chinese shares and commodities stumbled on fears that Beijing is ready to tighten policy to cool economic growth.

Japanese stocks hit a 15-month high on Friday as the yen eased against the dollar, leading Asian shares higher, while gold and oil prices fell amid lingering concerns over possible central bank policy tightening in China.

A U.S. government report on Friday is expected to show the economy stopped shedding jobs last month for the first time since it fell into recession two years ago, easing a political weight on President Barack Obama.

Sony Corp said U.S. electronics sales are looking positive after the holiday season, even as the strong yen handicaps the Japanese conglomerate against South Korean and Chinese rivals.

The dollar dipped against the yen on Friday after Japanese Finance Minister Naoto Kan said markets should decide exchange rates.

A former director of McKinsey & Co told a court on Thursday that Galleon hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam paid him $1.75 million in exchange for tips on clients of the consulting firm, giving prosecutors potentially more ammunition in the insider-trading case.

Marriott International said it expects North American hotels' revenue per available room will drop by 13 to 14 percent in the fourth quarter, a slight improvement over earlier projections.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd , the world's largest generic drugmaker, on Thursday set a target of revenue of $31 billion in 2015, more than double its current annual amount as it sees major growth in overall use of generics.

Senior U.S. Federal Reserve officials placed different emphasis on inflation risks on Thursday, with one warning failure to withdraw support policies soon enough could trigger inflation while another played down such risks.

Borders Group Inc said on Thursday it has reached a deal with the maker of the upcoming Alex electronic reader that will prominently feature the U.S. bookseller's e-bookstore on the device when the site is launched later this year.

Boeing Co on Thursday announced an overhaul of its defense business that includes a name change for the unit and consolidation of two divisions, moving to position the company to pursue new markets in the face of a tougher U.S. defense spending environment.

The Australian Dollar opens lower on Friday at 0.9180 after a stronger greenback overnight weighed on the high-yielders and eroded yesterday's solid gains.

U.S. regulators on Thursday urged banks to protect themselves against hikes in interest rates, which could threaten the easy earnings that have helped heal the banking system during the credit crunch.

President Barack Obama took ultimate responsibility on Thursday for security lapses that allowed an attempted Christmas Day bombing of a U.S. airliner and ordered reforms aimed at thwarting future attacks.

The Dow and the S&P 500 rose on Thursday after Bank of America and General Electric rallied on positive broker comments, but investors were cautious a day before the release of key monthly non-farm payrolls data.

Wall Street's confidence in the nascent U.S. economic recovery is about to be tested as fourth-quarter earnings season gets under way next week.

General Motors Co said on Thursday it will seek to sell its Nexteer Automotive business -- the steering unit the U.S. automaker took back from former parts subsidiary Delphi Corp last year.