UNITED STATES

U.S. stocks rose on Friday as investors took heart after the government said monthly payroll losses slowed, even as unemployment rose above 10 percent.

The U.S. unemployment rate unexpectedly jumped to 10.2 percent in October, breaching the politically sensitive double-digit barrier for the first time in 26-1/2 years, even though the pace of job losses slowed.

U.S. employers cut a deeper-than-expected 190,000 jobs in October, government data showed on Friday, driving the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent, the highest in 26-1/2 years.

Censorship of the Internet is open to challenge at the World Trade Organization as it can restrict trade in services delivered online, a forthcoming study says.

Volkswagen's premium brand Audi expects its vehicle sales to fall less than previously thought to over 920,000 vehicles this year, Audi sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer told a German newspaper.

There were no bids by younger Palestinian leaders on Friday to step into the shoes of President Mahmoud Abbas, who says he does not want to run for re-election in January.

With a close vote looming in the House of Representatives, President Barack Obama's push for healthcare reform was boosted on Thursday by the support of powerful lobbies representing doctors and seniors.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney on Thursday urged President Barack Obama to commit enough troops to win the war in Afghanistan, warning hesitation would embolden U.S. foes and devastate its allies.

China denounced as protectionist new U.S. anti-dumping duties on steel pipes and launched its own investigation into imports of U.S.-made automobiles on Friday, a week before a visit by President Barack Obama.

The U.S. government guaranteed as much as $4.3 trillion in financial assets last year, making such backstops the biggest and riskiest part of Washington's response to the financial crisis, a bailout watchdog panel said on Friday.

The death toll from an Army psychiatrist who opened fire at the Fort Hood Army post rose to 13 on Friday, and Army officials said the suspected shooter was hospitalized and on a ventilator.

British Airways signaled business is stabilizing, eclipsing news of a worse than expected first half loss and a prediction that revenue would slump by 1 billion pounds ($1.7 billion) this year.

European Union carbon emissions futures wilted slightly on Friday but were largely unaffected by news that a U.N. climate pact will likely be delayed into 2010, traders said.

Censorship of the Internet is open to challenge at the World Trade Organization as it can restrict trade in services delivered online, a forthcoming study says. A censorship case at the WTO could raise sovereignty issues, given the clear right of member states to restrict trade on moral grounds -- for example, by blocking access to child pornography websites.

European shares turned negative in afternoon trade on Friday after data showed U.S. employers cut 190,000 jobs in October, more than expected and driving the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent, the highest in 26-1/2 years.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a nearly 1 percent drop at the open on Friday as U.S. unemployment reached a more than 26-year high and topped the psychologically important 10 percent level.

Canada's GLG Life Tech Corp said it filed for an IPO in the United States offering 3.6 million common shares.

U.S. stock index futures pointed to a nearly 1 percent drop at the open on Friday as U.S. unemployment reached a more than 26-year high and topped the psychologically important 10 percent level.

Gold held steady around $1,090 an ounce on Friday after its rally to a record high this week on anticipation of renewed central bank demand came to a halt, with investors looking to economic data for direction.

British Airways Plc fell to a worse than expected first-half loss and forecast revenue would slump by 1 billion pounds this year, but analysts said the worst could be over as the airline signaled business was stabilizing.

U.S. employers cut a deeper-than-expected 190,000 jobs in October, government data showed on Friday, driving the unemployment rate to 10.2 percent, the highest in 26-1/2 years.