EQUITIES

Stocks were headed for their best week in a month on Friday after a brighter assessment of the economy and a more optimistic view of Europe's debt crisis drove a rally earlier this week.

U.S. stocks edged mostly lower on Friday as Wall Street shook off an unexpectedly weak payrolls report, while investors were reassured by the broader economic picture and the likelihood the Federal Reserve would stay the course on its stimulus plan.

Wall Street mostly shrugged off a weaker-than-expected payrolls report on Friday, leaving stocks little changed as the data didn't alter investors' view the economic recovery is on track.

Stock index futures fell from more than two-year highs on Friday, pointing to a slide at the open after a weaker-than-expected payrolls report indicated an economic recovery was still shaky.

Wall Street's largest two-day rally in three months will be tested by jobs data on Friday, with some in the market predicting a strong report that will push the S&P 500 to a fresh two-year high.

Stock index futures were little changed on Friday, following Wall Street's biggest two-day rally in three months and ahead of key labor market data that will show whether the economic recovery is on track.

The dollar steadied on Friday and stocks edged higher ahead of payroll data that could show more evidence of a strengthening U.S. recovery and give investors a reason to push more money into riskier assets.

Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq 100 fall 0.1 to 0.3 percent, pointing to a weaker start for equities on Wall Street on Friday.

The U.S. dollar was steady on Friday ahead of payrolls data for November that could show more evidence of a strengthening recovery and give investors a reason to push benchmark U.S. Treasury yields above 3 percent and put more money in equities.

Wall Street rallied for a second day on Thursday as concerns about Europe's sovereign debt crisis waned, forcing investors to reverse bearish bets on the market.

Financial stocks led Wall Street higher on Thursday after the European Central Bank left in place a liquidity safety net for vulnerable banks.

Wall Street rose on Thursday, led by banks and home builders after European lenders decided to continue a liquidity safety net for vulnerable banks and pending home sales data showed an unexpected jump in October.

Japan's Nikkei share average hit a five-month high and the euro stayed within sight of overnight highs on Thursday ahead of a European Central Bank meeting that investors speculate could yield new measures to contain the euro zone's fiscal crisis.

Stocks jumped and commodities rose on Friday after data showing fewer U.S. job losses than expected reinforced other reports this week to ease fears the American economy is on the cusp of a new recession.

Stocks jumped and commodities rallied on Friday after data showed U.S. job losses were less than expected in August, the second major report this week to ease fears the American economy may slip back into recession.

Stocks jumped and commodities rallied on Friday after data showed U.S. job losses were less than expected in August, the second major report this week to ease fears the American economy may slip back into recession.

Wall Street closed a stellar week on Friday after recent economic data, including a stronger-than-expected labor market report, bolstered optimism that the economy would not fall back into recession.

Brazilian state oil company Petrobras on Friday filed to sell up to $64.5 billion of new stock -- the largest in capital markets history -- sending its stock sharply higher after months of uncertainty that dragged on its share price.

The broad S&P 500 index closed its best week in eight on Friday after recent economic data, including a stronger-than-expected labor market report, bolstered optimism that the economy would not fall back into recession.

Wall Street was set to close its best week in six on Friday after economic data, including a stronger-than-expected labor market report, helped soothe fears the economy could fall back into recession.

European shares hit a three-week closing high on Friday and posted their biggest weekly gain in about 8 weeks as investors grabbed equities after figures showed that U.S. employment declined far less than expected in August.

Stocks jumped and the dollar rallied on Friday after data showed U.S. job losses were less than expected in August, the second major report this week to ease fears the economy would slip back into recession.

Wall Street was set to close out its best week in six on Friday after recent economic data, including a stronger-than-expected jobs report, showed the U.S. economy may be in better shape than thought.

World stocks jumped on Friday while the low-yielding yen and government bonds tumbled after a closely-watched U.S. jobs report showed a smaller-than-expected decline in non-farm payrolls.

Wall Street advanced for a third day on Friday as the monthly payrolls data showed the U.S. economy may be in better shape than investors had thought and helped whet some investor appetite for risk.

Wall Street advanced on Friday after a better-than-expected jobs report lifted investor optimism on the economy but gains were checked after data showed services sector activity slowed.

Wall Street was poised for a strong open on Friday after a better-than-expected jobs report lifted investor optimism on the economy.

European shares edged higher in early trade on Friday, after gains in the United States and Japan, but with traders cautious ahead of a key labour market report.

Stock index futures pointed to a slightly lower open on Wall Street on Friday, with futures for the S&P 500 down 0.21 percent, Dow Jones futures down 0.17 percent and Nasdaq100 futures flat at 0725 GMT (3:25 a.m. ET).