IBT Staff Reporter

World stocks extended gains and oil rebounded on Friday as upbeat data from China and the United States underscored an economic recovery, weighing on safe-haven government bonds and the low-yielding yen.

Karen Cordova, a 17-year-old high school student and part-time supermarket cashier, admits she sometimes texts friends while driving home from work late at night, lonely and bored.

Asian stocks, oil and most metals rose on Friday after a slew of Chinese data showed the world's third-largest economy is on a brisk recovery path, while the yen dipped against the dollar.

The Obama administration plans to channel money from the government financial bailout fund to small businesses in an effort to stem the political and economic fallout of high unemployment, the Washington Post said in its Friday editions.

Asian stocks rose on Friday after a slew of Chinese data showed the world's third-largest economy is on a brisk recovery path, while gold prices rose as the dollar steadied.

Boeing Co said on Thursday it has opened the flight-test window for its 787 Dreamliner starting December 15, allaying concerns that the hotly anticipated aircraft -- already two years behind schedule -- will miss its latest target of taking to the skies before year end.

Forex traders formulate their trading strategies based upon technical indicators and fundamental or macroeconomic indicators. If a trader favors the fundamental approach, he'll be glued to daily, monthly, and quarterly economic reports to help him determine his next trading strategy. In fact, most online trading systems provide daily business journal news any time, day or night. One of the main areas that are analyzed for strategic planning is the retail sales indicator.

Investment markets around the globe are sensitive to various economic indicators that give traders the first indications where an economy is headed. If an investor can tap into these changes relatively early, then he can hopefully benefit from such crucial news. One of the earliest and most significant economic indicators that are published on a monthly basis is the ISM (Institute for Supply Management) Manufacturing survey or figure.

More bailout pay cuts coming; Climate deal call from Obama; Top auto execs talk

Entertainers came out full of holiday spirit on a freezing afternoon at the New York Stock Exchange Tree Lighting ceremony on Thursday.

Earlier this week, Google rolled out its real-time search function - which attempts to index and display web pages faster than before - and Yahoo announced Thursday it will begin inserting Twitter posts directly into its general Web search results page.

Earlier this week, Google rolled out its real-time search function - which attempts to index and display web pages faster than before - and Yahoo announced Thursday it will begin inserting Twitter posts directly into its general Web search results page.

If you're an Internet search engine, having Twitter content adorning your results has become as fashionable as claiming a Tiger Woods liaison seems to be for a certain group of people.

Sales of video game equipment and software in the United States fell 7.6 percent in November to $2.7 billion, research group NPD said on Thursday, as the struggling industry limped into the crucial holiday sales period.

Sales of video game equipment and software in the United States fell 7.6 percent in November to $2.7 billion, research group NPD said on Thursday, as the struggling industry limped into the crucial holiday sales period.

The latest buzz online is that Dell is planning to unveil a tablet PC, possibly using the gala Consumer Electronics Shows in Las Vegas next month for its debut.

Ford Motor Co Chief Executive Alan Mulally said in a CNBC interview on Thursday that he had talked this week with General Motors Co Chairman and Chief Executive Ed Whitacre.

Two Chinese companies struggled to gain a foothold in the U.S. equity markets on Thursday, with one falling as much as 11.1 percent in its first day of trading and another withdrawing its initial offering altogether.

Specialty finance company Ellington Financial LLC pulled its initial public offering on Thursday due to market conditions, according to an underwriter.

U.S. copper futures remained lower into Thursday's close, after setting a fresh two-week low, with a rise in the dollar inspiring more investors to sell and take end-of-year profits, traders said.

Canada's ADF Group Inc (DRX.TO), which makes steel superstructures for building constructions, posted a 78 percent drop in third-quarter profit, hurt by contract delays, but said it has a strong backlog and a healthy cash position.

A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel on Thursday said it found Gilead Sciences Inc's (GILD.O) aztreonam was an effective new treatment for life-threatening lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.

William Young is set to become chairman of Biogen Idec Inc's(BIIB.O) board of directors when Bruce Ross steps down from the post on Jan. 1, the biotechnology company announced on Thursday.

A bronze state of President Barack Obama as a 10-year-old boy wearing shorts and a T-shirt has been erected in a Jakarta park, Indonesia.

Shares in China Longyuan Power Group Corp Ltd (0916.HK), the world's 5th-largest wind power generator, rose 9 percent on their Hong Kong debut though this was less than expected and came after a U.N. body blocked carbon financing for some China wind projects.

As over 15000 politicians and delegates gather in Copenhagen for the UN's Climate Change conference , a separate conference in Denmark also occurred, comprising of scientists and lobby groups.

As over 15000 politicians and delegates gather in Copenhagen for the UN's Climate Change conference , a separate conference in Denmark also occurred, comprising of scientists and lobby groups.

Oracle Corp's (ORCL.O) customers told concerned European Union regulators on Thursday that the U.S. software company's $7 billion deal to buy Sun Microsystems Inc (JAVA.O) would not curtail competition in the database market.

French bank Societe Generale (SOGN.PA) said it was close to reaching a definitive deal with rival Dexia (DEXI.BR) over buying Dexia's 20 percent stake in Credit du Nord to give SocGen full control.