UNITED STATES

U.S. consumer spending slipped in August but falling gasoline prices elevated shoppers' moods by September and Midwest factory activity picked up as well, according to reports on Friday that suggested the economy was still motoring along. Meanwhile, indicators for consumer prices offered a mixed reading on inflation.

The move to mobility continued to be a key factor during this year's back-to-school season (BTS) one market research firm indicates.

The Japanese Olympic Commission (JOC) will appoint Tokyo Governor Shintaro Ishihara as the director-general of Tokyo Olympic Bidding Committee for the 2016 Summer Games, the commission said on Friday.

Yahoo and Hewlett-Packard have signed a deal to feature Yahoo services, including search, on the HP computers sold in the United States and European Markets.

St. Louis Federal Reserve Bank President William Poole said on Friday that inflation must be kept under wraps, but if both growth and price pressures were sufficiently weak, he would back a reduction in U.S. interest rates. He said policy should be disciplined but not more than warranted.

The World Trade Organization swore in David Unterhalter from South Africa as a member of the Appellate Body by the Body's Chairman, A.V. Ganesan, at a ceremony on Thursday.

Toshiba Corp. and Fujitsu Ltd. joined a growing list of computer makers recalling Sony Corp. batteries in the latest blow to consumer confidence in Sony's reputation as a manufacturer. Toshiba announced a recall of 830,000 laptop batteries prone to short-circuiting and even catching fire.

Lumber prices have lost a third of their value since January amid a cooling U.S. housing sector, and a softwood trade deal between the United States and Canada won't stem the slide soon because implementation may be delayed.

China is quietly adjusting its policy on the yuan, letting it appreciate a little faster and setting the stage for a possibly wider trading band, traders and analysts said after a recent surge in the currency's value.

Korean social networking Cyworld's recently launched U.S. unit said on Thursday it signed with a Hollywood talent agency to help it win licensing deals with media properties that appeal to young Web users.

Auto giant DaimlerChrysler AG is in detailed discussions with China's Chery Automobile to make cars for sale in the United States and other markets and could finalize the deal soon, sources said on Friday. Most funding would be from DaimlerChrysler with U.S. models labeled as Chrysler.

Oil steadied above $62 on Friday as burgeoning U.S. inventories and slower-than-expected economic growth balanced possible action from some OPEC producers to trim output to halt the decline in prices.

BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. breezed past investor and analyst expectations in delivering its second-quarter results on Thursday and forecast strong growth in subscribers for the future......

Investing in football club equities was once the domain of the staunch supporter, interested more in hanging a share certificate on the wall than making money.

The FTSE 100 index is seen opening 2 points higher on Friday, financial bookmakers said, after the index ended up 0.69 percent at 5,9871.3 points in the previous session.

Aegis Group has won the pan European media buying and planning account for General Motors, the world's second largest spender on advertising behind Procter & Gamble

Ford Motor Credit Company said on Thursday it will reduce costs in the U.S and Canada by cutting 2,000 jobs and will consolidate most of its servicing operations.

A new study released on Thursday shows that U.S consumers have spent almost 20 percent more on gifts so far this year compared to the same period last year. Continued gift spending is expected to reach over $2,250 this year once the Christmas season is in full swing.

Nigeria, the world's eighth biggest oil exporter, is trimming supplies from October 1 after discussions with fellow OPEC members on how to stem a price fall, a senior Nigerian oil industry source said on Thursday.

Restaurant operator Wendy's International Inc. on Thursday said a U.S. district judge in New York denied a noteholders' suit seeking to enjoin a planned spin-off of Canadian coffee shop chain Tim Hortons Inc, in which Wendy's is the majority shareholder.

While the Unites States still leads the world with nearly 40 percent of global semiconductor purchasing, China is expected to achieve the leading growth among the top 10 nations, according to research released on Thursday.