MARKETS / FINANCE

India's soybean production is forecasted to be above 90 lakh tons during this season despite 4% shortfall in the total acreage, said industrial body, the Soybean Processors Association of India (SOPA).

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.

Chinese and other investors have approached at least one big Canadian pension manager about a bid for Canada's Potash Corp to rival BHP Billiton's $39 billion (25 billion pounds) hostile offer.

World oil prices dropped below $75 a barrel in Asian trade Friday after overnight gains on positive US economic data that boosts energy demand.

In the global market gold witnessed no major movements as the traders are waiting for the US job data which will be released later.

The FTSE 100 is seen climbing 7-8 points on open on Friday, with moves seen muted ahead of closely watched employment data from the United States.

The dollar struggled on Friday while the euro and other higher-risk currencies were off the day's highs as investors braced for weak U.S. jobs data that may fuel more risk aversion.

BP Plc said on Friday the cost of dealing with its oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico had risen to $8 billion and that it was a fortnight away from sealing the well for good.

Hurricane Earl raked North Carolina's barrier islands with gusting winds, pounding surf and rain on Thursday as it took a swipe at the U.S. East Coast on an offshore path towards New England and Canada.

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).

Gold prices were steady on Thursday, with buyers cautious on the physical market, as investors wait for key U.S. job data due later in the day for further clues on health of the economy. Data released on Thursday showed a surprise rebound in pending sales of previously owned homes in July, as well as a fall in new jobless claims last week in the U.S.

The euro and high-yielding currencies held firm on Friday after an improvement in U.S. housing and jobless claims data bolstered investor appetite for risk ahead of key U.S. jobs data due later in the day. Still, reflecting simmering worries about a slowdown in the U.S. and global economies, the yen was locked near a 15-year high against the dollar and the Swiss franc hovered near a record peak against the euro.

Oil fell on Friday for the first day in three as traders awaited U.S. monthly jobs data, while Hurricane Earl neared the country's east coast, fuelling concerns of disruptions to refineries and demand during the Labor Day long weekend.

Gold retail purchases in the UAE dropped by nearly 15 percent during August as it coincides with Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Gold prices were mixed in Asian trade Friday ahead of a key US jobs data while ETF gold eased. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $1249.64 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while US gold futures for December delivery was at $1251.7 an ounce at the same time.

Banks said they need to be more open about the size of their bonus pools and the methodology for paying star bankers, after making progress in other areas of reforming pay structures.

Metro Bank, whose launch in July marked the birth of Britain's first new high street retail bank in more than 100 years, said on Friday it was creating 100 new jobs.

Chinese and other investors have approached at least one big Canadian pension manager about a bid for Canada's Potash Corp to rival BHP Billiton's $39 billion (25.3 billion pound) hostile offer.

Hurricane Earl began to strafe North Carolina's barrier islands with dangerous winds and surf on Thursday as it spun parallel to the U.S. East Coast on a northward trek towards New England and Canada.

Video game maker Take-Two Interactive Inc on Thursday smashed Wall Street expectations for its fiscal third quarter and raised its forecast for the current fourth quarter, citing strong sales for its Red Dead Redemption title.

Burger King Holdings Inc agreed to sell itself to investment firm 3G Capital for $3.26 billion (2.11 billion pounds), giving the No. 2 U.S. fast-food chain breathing room to fix its business and close the gap with leader McDonald's Corp .

Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc , the bankrupt U.S. investment bank, needs at least $550 million to keep its two bank units going as it prepares to sell them or shut them down in 18 months, court documents show.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he was partly to blame for leaving the wrong impression that the central bank could have saved Lehman Brothers from failure in 2008.

Billionaire investor Ron Burkle plans to appeal a Delaware court ruling that upheld an anti-takeover poison pill put in place by bookseller Barnes & Noble Inc .

U.S. regulators probing the May flash crash are focusing on a trading practice known as quote stuffing, in which large numbers of rapid-fire orders to buy or sell stocks are placed and canceled almost immediately.

Stocks rose on low volume on Thursday as data showed improvement in housing and the job market a day ahead of the critical monthly payrolls figures.

Pending sales of previously owned U.S. homes rebounded unexpectedly in July and new claims for jobless benefits fell last week, helping quell fears the economy could face a double-dip recession.

The European Central Bank extended its liquidity safety net for vulnerable euro zone banks into next year, delaying its exit from crisis measures for now as it urged caution about the economic recovery.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said he was partly to blame for leaving the wrong impression that the central bank could have saved Lehman Brothers from failure in 2008.