IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. drug firm Pfizer has approached several Indian drugmakers for possible alliances to bolster its revenues, the Economic Times reported on Friday.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer Honeywell International Inc posted a 15 percent profit drop that was far less severe than analysts had forecast, sending its shares higher in light premarket trading.

General Motors Chief Executive Fritz Henderson will get a rise in his compensation package to $5.45 million under new rules advocated by the U.S. pay czar, Bloomberg said, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Shares in Amazon.com Inc and American Express rose in Frankfurt trading on Friday, after both companies released quarterly results that came in above expectations.

Fortune Brands Inc reported a quarterly profit that topped analysts' estimates on Friday and said each of its business units performed at or above its expectations, sending shares of the consumer goods company up 2.4 percent.

Japan could weaken its target for a 25 percent cut in greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 if all major emitters do not reach agreement on an ambitious global climate pact, the environment minister said Friday.

Stock futures pointed to a higher open on Friday after Microsoft Corp's quarterly earnings topped expectations and ahead of data expected to show monthly improvement in the housing market.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday regulators are considering a capital surcharge on large banks as one way to reduce the risk any one firm's problems could destabilize the financial system.

A combination of investment risks threatens to obstruct an already stumbling U.N.-backed $6.5 billion market in clean energy projects in emerging nations, years before the scheme's first phase is due to end.

Diversified U.S. manufacturer Honeywell International Inc posted a 15 percent drop in profit on weak demand for systems used in commercial buildings and aircraft.

U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Friday regulators are considering a capital surcharge on large banks to reduce the risks that any one firm's problems could destabilize the financial system.

A new nuclear fuel recycling system could cut radioactive waste and remove the possibility of plutonium from spent nuclear fuel being used to make weapons, but it won't come cheap.

Novera Energy will start construction of the Glenkerie wind farm in Scotland in the first half of next year after agreeing financing for the project.

GE Hitachi Nuclear Energy has proposed an alternative nuclear fuel recycling system, which could reduce radioactive waste and avoid extraction of plutonium that can be used for making weapons.

Oil prices rose on Friday, holding above $81 a barrel, but skepticism economic recovery was robust enough to spur a convincing rise in fuel demand limited the appetite to extend this week's powerful rally.

Whirlpool Corp reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday as cost cuts offset weak sales, and the world's biggest appliance maker raised its full-year forecast.

Microsoft Corp's quarterly profit fell a smaller-than-expected 18 percent on Friday, as the world's largest software company held up better than feared, sending its shares up 8 percent.

Nigeria's anti-corruption police is working with top computer software companies to halt thousands of fraudulent emails in a crackdown on internet crime in Africa's most populous country, an agency spokesman said.

Nigeria's anti-corruption police is working with Microsoft to halt thousands of fraudulent emails in a crackdown on internet crime in Africa's most populous country, an agency spokesman said.

Oilfield services leader Schlumberger Ltd reported lower quarterly earnings on Friday, hurt by weaker energy prices and slowing exploration spending.

Investors smelling profits in commodities are using the sector as an early cycle play, alongside equities, because a lack of production capacity means higher prices sooner rather than later.

Stock futures rose slightly on Friday ahead of earnings from software giant Microsoft Corp and existing home sales data.

Britain's economy contracted in the third quarter of this year, quashing hopes the downturn was ending and instead marking the longest recession on record.

Stock futures rose slightly on Friday ahead of earnings from software giant Microsoft Corp and existing home sales data.

Fed's Political Shift?; Indy Booksellers Upset With Price War; Intel's Reassurances

Intel Corp assured Clearwire Corp it is closely guarding its investment information on the wireless-broadband company after an insider-trading scandal surfaced last week, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Clearwire chief executive Bill Morrow.

Japan's Nikkei stock average edged up 0.2 percent on Friday, with construction machinery shares rising on hopes for China's economy and Kirin Holdings (2503.T) gaining ground on a brokerage upgrade.

Interviews with dozens of lobbyists, banking industry insiders, and high-level regulators suggests that the Fed incursion into excessive pay stems more from political expediency than financial concerns. This, many say, raises serious questions about the central bank's independence.

Oil prices edged lower on Friday, back toward $81 a barrel, as skepticism economic recovery was robust enough to spur a convincing rise in fuel demand curbed appetite to extend this week's powerful rally.