IBT Staff Reporter

Caution ahead of U.S. jobs numbers kept a lid on gains for stock markets on Friday after an optimistic start to the year that has added more than 7 percent to global company values.

China's headline consumer price index is on track to fall on a month-to-month basis in the coming months and mark a year-on-year decline in the second half of 2012, a government economist said in comments published on Friday.

Lower regulatory charges, cost cuts and strong demand for a wide range of services enabled Britain's BT to post solid third-quarter core earnings on Friday and lift aspects of its forecasts.

China's headline consumer price index is on track to fall on a month-to-month basis in the coming months and mark a year-on-year decline in the second half of 2012, a government economist said in comments published on Friday.

U.S. small business hiring was flat in January, a poll released on Friday showed, slightly better than the previous month's reading but still far from levels consistent with strong employment growth.

Switzerland said on Friday it was investigating a dozen U.S., European and Japanese banks suspected of conspiring to manipulate interbank lending rates used to set interest rates on hundreds of trillions of dollars of securities.

A dip in figures on China's non-manufacturing sector helped dampen financial markets optimism on Friday ahead of U.S. jobs data that will offer more clues on the strength of the world's top economy.

U.S. employment growth probably slowed in January as messengers hired during the busy holiday shopping season were laid off, but the improving labor market trend should remain intact.

When Huawei Technologies posts its annual results in April, they will likely show the unlisted Chinese firm has overtaken Sweden's Ericsson as the world's top-selling telecoms equipment maker.

Hitachi Ltd said on Friday that it would reorganize its operational structure in April by setting up five new groups, as it looks to accelerate growth in its social infrastructure business and continue overhauling its sprawling operations to boost profitability.

Panasonic Corp posted a quarterly net loss of 197.6 billion yen ($2.59 billion) on Tuesday and forecast a record 780 billion yen full-year net loss, hurt by weak demand for its TVs and the cost of restructuring operations.

When Zhang Dong sat down recently to book train tickets for his trip home for the Chinese new year, he got a taste of the frustration that has helped make China's railway ministry a focus of anger against the country's many bureaucrats.

So much for Facebook fatigue.A survey released on Friday shows that people who have used the social networking site over a long period - since its founding in 2004, say - show no sign that they are tired of posting pictures, updating weekend plans or just relaying random thoughts.

Four floors up overlooking the bustle of the cavernous Joy City Mall in Beijing, diners take a break from shopping to slurp noodles and nibble on dumplings at an Ajisen restaurant.

It's been 20 years since the little town of Woodstock was turned into Punxsutawney for the Bill Murray comedy classic Groundhog Day, but the Chicago suburb is still still feeling the impact.

Punxsutawney Phil, the weather-predicting groundhog, has seen his shadow, promising six more weeks of winter.

ABC ordered two comedy pilots Wednesday, one of them from country singer/actress Reba McEntire.

The heart sinks a bit with the opening shot of Chronicle: a teenager sets up a video camera in front of the mirror and begins narrating the movie, much of which will be seen from his point of view through the lens of his own camera.

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band will perform at the 2012 Grammy Awards, joining Adele, Paul McCartney, Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Nicki Minaj on the music show lineup.

Michael Sheen is stepping into Paul Bettany's sex-researcher shoes.

Frank Delaney knows a surefire way to capture a person's attention. In fact, the New York Times bestselling author and former BBC broadcaster claims he can do it with only eight words.

NBC's new musical drama Smash could hardly have a stronger pedigree: Idea by Steven Spielberg, songs by award-winning Broadway producers, stars including Anjelica Huston and Debra Messing, and screen icon Marilyn Monroe holding the whole show-within-a show together.

American Idol judges Steven Tyler and Jennifer Lopez will be harder on contestants this year, and veteran Randy Jackson said he's retiring his in it to win it catchphrase.

Sara Lee Corp Executive Chairman Jan Bennink thinks it is time for his company to reinvest in the single-serve coffee market.

Solar power company SolarCity is expected to debut on U.S. markets in the third quarter this year and has hired Goldman Sachs to underwrite its initial public offering, a source close to the company said on Thursday.

GasLand director Josh Fox has been processed and released following his arrest at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Fox, who was charged with unlawful entry for trying to film a House Science Committee meeting on hydraulic fracturing -- aka fracking -- is due in court on the matter February 15.

One Million Moms -- a project of the American Family Association -- is very angry at JC Penney.

Michelle Obama has been busy promoting her healthy eating and fitness program for two years. But how fit is she herself?

No, John Hawkes will not be playing The Governor on The Walking Dead.