IBT Staff Reporter

Crude oil traded near $82 a barrel on Friday before a report expected to show U.S. employment declined in July, as investors watch for clues to the pace of economic and energy demand recovery. The return of crude's inverse correlation with the U.S. currency has been supporting oil, which has recently failed to track stock markets lower, analysts said. European stocks were little changed on Friday.

The dollar struggled near a 3 1/2-month low versus a currency basket on Friday as investors braced for U.S. data expected to show a fall in jobs for a second month, underlining the fragility of the labor market. Currencies were generally little changed as traders steered clear of big positions before the much-anticipated data, leaving the dollar stranded close to a three-month low against the euro and an eight-month trough versus the yen hit earlier this week.

Stock index futures pointed to a slightly higher open on Wall Street on Friday ahead of U.S. monthly jobs data.

A healthier loan book drove higher second-quarter profits at Royal Bank of Scotland , echoing a pattern set by rivals' results this week, and the bailed-out group said its revival plan was on track.

Gold prices advanced towards its biggest weekly gains in two months as traders await a key US data for more clues. Gold for immediate delivery was seen trading at $ 1195.43 an ounce at 12.00 noon Singapore time while U.S. gold futures for December delivery was at $1198 an ounce. on the comex division of Nymex

Lower impairment losses helped Royal Bank of Scotland's second quarter operating profit rise from the first quarter, and the part-nationalized group expected good medium-term prospects for its business.

The European Central Bank supports temporary bans on naked short selling of European credit default swaps and shares in extreme market conditions, but has warned against permanent action to stop shorting.

U.S. employment probably fell for a second straight month in July as more temporary census jobs ended and private hiring remained too weak to boost a fragile economic recovery, according to a Reuters survey.

Suppliers of Russian wheat to Asia are edging nearer to cancelling contracts after Moscow's ban on grain exports, forcing buyers to turn to alternative origins as U.S. wheat futures soar to a 23-month high.

The dollar was on the defensive and Japanese stocks fell after weak U.S. jobless claims figures heightened worries that Friday's payroll data could paint a bleak picture of the U.S. economic recovery.

The dollar was on the defensive and Japan stocks fell after weak U.S. jobless claims figures heightened worries that Friday's payroll data could paint a bleak picture of the U.S. economic recovery.

Crude oil prices were steady on Friday near $82 before a report expected to show U.S. employment declined for a second straight month in July, as investors watch for clues to the pace of economic and energy demand recovery.

The dollar was on the defensive near a 3- month low against a basket of currencies after weak U.S. jobless claims figures heightened worries that Friday's payroll data could paint a bleak picture of the U.S. economic recovery. A weak reading could fuel talk that the Federal Reserve may consider additional easing steps as early as next week, which could put pressure on the dollar particularly against the yen, given the pair's recent strong correlation with U.S. Treasury yields.

Google Inc, which runs the world's most popular Internet search engine, was ordered to defend itself against a lawsuit by a former manager who said he was fired for being too old, clearing the way for a trial.

Saudi Arabia and BlackBerry maker Research In Motion are making progress in talks over access to the device's encrypted network, a source close to the negotiations said, and the kingdom had yet to carry out threats to cut its Messenger service early Friday morning.

Demand for higher yielding assets dampened on concern China's bank stress tests will reveal losses, softening the Australian Dollar during Asia.

The AUD traded quietly overnight, within its recent range as investors remained sidelined ahead of US payrolls data tonight.

Regulators halted closed-door negotiations about net neutrality rules with phone, cable and Internet companies on Thursday after reports of a side deal between two participants, Verizon Communications Inc and Google Inc, surfaced.

The Fatigue Calculator, which calculates sleep hours to establish one's fatigue level, will become available on mobile handsets and touch-screen kiosks.

Canada said it is talking to Saudi Arabia and the UAE to resolve a fight over BlackBerry security that could jeopardize the growth of Research in Motion Ltd, the country's most important tech exporter.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc is considering two options for its main proprietary trading group as it tries to comply with a new U.S. financial reform law, sources familiar with the process said.

Stocks edged lower on Thursday as an unexpected rise in initial jobless claims and unimpressive July retail sales dimmed optimism ahead of the monthly payrolls report.

Employees who fritter time away on Facebook, Twitter and other social media Web sites are costing British businesses billions, new research suggests.

In a world of monster fiscal deficits, Canadian Finance Minister Jim Flaherty has a luxury problem: The strong economy is pushing up his currency.

The Pentagon demanded on Thursday that whistle-blower web site WikiLeaks immediately hand over about 15,000 secret Afghan war records it had not yet published and erase material it had already put online.

Any industry agreement on the flow of online traffic such as the one struck between Verizon Communications Inc and Google Inc must preserve a free and open Internet, the top U.S. communications regulator said on Thursday.

Cable television companies wooed home Internet users from rivals in the second quarter, helping offset a trend that has seen their television customers flee to top satellite player DirecTV Group.

Talks between Research In Motion and the Saudi telecom regulator on Thursday made progress toward a final solution for which technical modalities will be hammered out on Friday, a source said.

Australia is in the top 10 OECD countries with the highest rate of type 1 diabetes among children, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).