UNITED STATES

World stocks hit 10-month highs for a second day running on Friday following upbeat growth data from the euro zone, but a fall in Chinese stocks and caution over the ongoing U.S. earnings season tempered gains.

Taking his private equity firm public paid off big for Blackstone Group LP's Stephen Schwarzman, who became the top-paid chief executive in the United States last year, a title he is likely to retain for some time, according to an analysis released on Thursday.

Dole Food Co Inc filed with U.S. regulators on Friday to raise up to $500 million in an initial public offering of common stock.

U.S. bankruptcy filings rose 38 percent in April-June from a year ago, according to court data released Thursday, as consumers and business were hit by rising unemployment and a lack of credit.

Shares in solar power companies fell on Thursday, led by a 14-percent drop in LDK Solar Co Ltd, which posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss.

Oil and gas company Sterling Energy Plc said on Friday it would raise 62.5 million pounds ($103.6 million) in a discounted placing of new shares and that it had ended all talks regarding the sale of the company. Sterling Energy, which said in April it had agreed with its syndicate banks on a waiver until mid-August on repayment schedule of outstanding loans, said it had further amended the waiver agreement to mid-February 2011, conditional upon completion of the placing.

The euro hit a one-week high against the dollar on Thursday after the euro zone's two biggest economies posted surprise returns to growth in the second quarter, helping drag the dollar lower.

Trade wars after a planned U.N. climate deal are implausible, partly because of a surge of new business opportunities creating jobs in clean energy, the head of the U.S. delegation at U.N. climate talks said.

World stocks hit 10-month highs for a second day running on Friday after euro zone growth data in the previous session and positive earnings from the world's largest retailer also boosted sentiment.

Japanese stocks ended at a 10-month high on Friday after upbeat eurozone growth data and positive earnings from the world's largest retailer helped offset gloomy U.S. retail and jobs data, factors which pulled down the dollar.

150 American clients of UBS are likely to face criminal charges related to tax evasion in the United States, the New York Times reported, citing a person briefed on the matter.

The deadline for online applications for the first round of the U.S. government's $7.2 billion program to provide broadband access to all Americans was extended to August 20 from August 14 because of technical problems caused by the high number of applicants.

150 American clients of UBS are likely to face criminal charges related to tax evasion in the United States, the New York Times reported, citing a person briefed on the matter.

Microsoft Corp and Nokia announced an alliance on Wednesday to bring business software to smartphones and counter the dominance of Research in Motion Ltd's BlackBerry.

One in four U.S. homes for sale on August 1 had their prices marked down at least once since landing on the market, data compiled by real estate website Trulia.com showed on Friday.

Japan's Nikkei share average rose to a 10-month high on Friday after upbeat eurozone growth data and positive earnings from the world's largest retailer helped offset gloomy U.S. retail and jobs data, factors which brought down the dollar.

Bank of America Corp , the largest U.S. bank, said on Thursday it is dropping a requirement that forces consumers with disputes on credit cards and other accounts into an arbitration process, which critics say favors card issuers.

The U.S. government is testing new technology in China and Iran to evade web screening protocols of restrictive regimes, a top technology official told Reuters.

Who is the Pay Czar?; IOUs to End; Top Paid Exec

The deadline for online applications for the first round of the U.S. government's $7.2 billion program to provide broadband access to all Americans was extended to August 20 from August 14 because of technical problems caused by the high number of applicants.

Taking his private equity firm public paid off big for Blackstone Group LP's Stephen Schwarzman, who became the top-paid chief executive in the United States last year, a title he is likely to retain for some time, according to an analysis released on Thursday.