UNITED STATES

Even as they are forced to wait like everyone else for swine flu vaccines in short supply, thousands of nurses and other front-line healthcare workers are fighting mandatory flu immunization policies being put in place by some U.S. hospitals.

The US trade deficit widened more than expected in September although import prices increased less than expected, suggesting that inflation in remaining steady.

After an $81 billion refunding this week, the U.S. government securities market turns its attention in the coming week to the state of the economy and what that portends for Federal Reserve monetary policy.

The United States needs a credible way to dismantle large troubled financial institutions to squash a belief that some firms will always be rescued, a top U.S. government watchdog said on Friday.

Chicago Federal Reserve President Charles Evans said on Friday that U.S. monetary policy was likely to remain accommodative well into next year, but that the tools for shifting gear were being explored.

The International Monetary Fund is studying a wide range of possible ways to impose a levy on banks, including taxes on profits, assets and financial transactions, its chief economist said on Friday.

The percentage of homes bought in the United States by first-time buyers rose significantly in the year through June, helped by a popular $8,000 tax credit, the National Association of Realtors said on Friday.

Leading U.S. bank regulator Sheila Bair said on Friday that the government's capital injections into the largest banks was probably not a good thing.

Workers at a Ford Motor Co assembly plant in Missouri have started a vote that would authorize a strike as the automaker and the United Auto Workers union continue talks aimed at resolving disputes over local plant conditions.

Canada's trade deficit narrowed sharply in September from a record large gap in August thanks in part to a comeback in auto exports and growing sales to non-U.S. markets, Statistics Canada said on Friday.

Nissan Motor Co Ltd will keep the price of its upcoming battery-powered Leaf competitive with similar-sized cars and expects to make money on the vehicle despite the cost of its launch, Chief Executive Carlos Ghosn on Friday.

Lithium-ion battery maker A123 Systems is increasing its focus on the automotive market, creating a new business unit led by a former auto parts executive.

U.S. stocks rose in light volume on Friday to achieve a second straight week of gains as upbeat retail news reinforced hopes for strong sales in the key holiday season

When President Barack Obama sits down with his Chinese counterpart next week to talk climate change, it is highly unlikely they will craft a definitive plan to tackle global warming.

Leading U.S. bank regulator Sheila Bair said on Friday that the government's capital injections into the largest banks was probably not a good thing.

Dell Inc is entering the smartphone market, with its first device to launch in China in late November, followed by Brazil toward the end of the year.

U.S. consumer sentiment soured in early November on grim job prospects while a larger-than-expected trade deficit had analysts scaling back estimates for third-quarter U.S. economic growth.

U.S. auto sales in November will not fall back below levels seen in October, the chief U.S. sales analyst for Ford Motor Co said on Friday.

Two computer programmers designed codes to falsify thousands of fake trade blotters and phantom records for swindler Bernard Madoff and took hush money to help keep the massive fraud going, U.S. authorities said.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday, setting up a second straight week of gains, as upbeat retail news reinforced hopes for strong sales in the key holiday season.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday, setting up a second straight week of gains, as upbeat retail news reinforced hopes for strong sales in the key holiday season.