IBT Staff Reporter

The Dow dipped and the S&P 500 clung to a tiny gain on Friday as investors wrestled with the prospect that the Federal Reserve might have to raise interest rates after data showed the economy shed far fewer jobs than expected last month.

Oil prices fell nearly $1 to below $76 a barrel on Friday, pressured by a stronger dollar which outweighed better-than-expected U.S. jobs data.

The dollar jumped against major currencies on Friday after data showed the United States lost far fewer jobs than expected last month, bolstering hopes the economy is on a stable path to recovery.

The draw of the teams who will face each other in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa took place Friday in South Africa.

Sony will surpass $2 billion in international box office during the coming weekend as the studio marks its biggest worldwide haul ever at $3.36 billion and counting.

U.S. stocks rose on Friday as investors believed that data showing the economy shed far fewer jobs than expected last month has brightened the profit outlook.

General Motors and Suzuki Motor Corp have agreed to dissolve their vehicle manufacturing joint venture in Canada, with GM buying Suzuki's stake in the operation, the companies said on Friday.

Federal investigators suspected a decade ago that Galleon Group hedge fund founder Raj Rajaratnam was trading on inside information but were unable to prove he was breaking the law.

Rachel Uchitel, one of Tiger Woods' alleged mistresses, cancelled a scheduled press conference on Thursday where the public expected her to tell all about her relationship with the golfer.

A United Nations climate panel has blocked carbon financing for around ten Chinese wind farms on Friday over concerns that they are financially viable without receiving carbon offsets, the panel said.

The U.S. Energy Department on Friday announced it will award up to $979 million to three projects aimed at developing technology to trap and store carbon emissions from coal plants.

Wealthy nations must fight climate change on security grounds, as they will have to deal with any mass movement of people displaced by the effects of global warming, Nobel Prize laureate Wangari Maathai said on Friday.

The FIFA 2010 World Cup Draw will be streamed live from Cape Town's International Convention Center in South Africa at 12:00 PM ET.

Stocks held moderate gains, but retreated from session highs at midday on Friday as investors wrestled with the prospect that the Federal Reserve might have to raise interest rates after data showed the economy shed far fewer jobs than expected last month.

Yum Brands Inc, the parent of the KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut fast-food chains, forecast fourth-quarter sales at established restaurants that were below some analysts' estimates, and its shares fell 4.3 percent.

CHICAGO (Reuters) - U.S. airline stocks surged on Friday on a stronger-than-expected U.S. jobs report that could signal an economic rebound and subsequently spur passenger traffic.

General Motors and its Chinese partner SAIC Motor are to make small cars and commercial vehicles in India, taking a successful 12-year Chinese partnership into one of the world's fastest growing auto markets.

Financial stocks are still top bets among some of the largest hedge funds, which continued piling into big banks like JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) and Citigroup Inc (C.N) in the third quarter.

There were 115,502 U.S. bankruptcy petitions in November, down 13 percent from October but up 26 percent from a year earlier, according to data compiled from court filings by Automated Access to Court Electronic Records, which is part of Jupiter eSources LLC in Oklahoma City.

GM will assign new responsibilities for Vice Chairman Bob Lutz, just a few days after the company’s board decided to replace its Chief Executive Officer.

General Motors Co Chairman and Chief Executive Ed Whitacre announced a broad shake-up of the automaker's senior leadership on Friday, tightening his grip on the company three days after replacing its CEO.

General Motors Co and Chrysler proposed steps on Thursday to resolve complaints from terminated dealerships and head off potential congressional intervention.

Tesco Plc, Britain's biggest retailer, is set to join rivals in flagging solid pre-Christmas trading next week, but investors will be casting a wary eye on 2010 as the government unveils its budget plans.

U.S. stocks retreated on Friday as a stronger U.S. dollar weighed on commodity prices, overshadowing an earlier boost from a better-than-expected jobs report.

General Motors Co Chairman and Chief Executive Ed Whitacre announced a broad shake-up of the automaker's senior leadership on Friday, tightening his grip on the company three days after replacing its CEO.

AIG is soliciting bids for its International Lease Finance Corp after a group led by the unit's chief offered to buy a small portion of the aircraft lessor's fleet, according to sources familiar with the matter.

Governments can adopt more ambitious carbon pricing schemes to address the effects of climate change without harming the global economic recovery, the International Monetary Fund said on Friday.

British oil giant BP has begun cleaning up a second pipeline leak at its Prudhoe Bay operations in Alaska this week, after fluid spilled from a flow line on Wednesday.

Kraft Foods Inc posted its offer document to Cadbury Plc shareholders on Friday outlining its cash and shares takeover bid.