IBT Staff Reporter

U.S. consumer confidence fell to its lowest in four months in August on worries over high unemployment and dismal personal finances, though the mood managed to improve from earlier this month, a survey showed on Friday.

Global buyout firms including Permira and KKR KKR.UL are set to bid for a core Citigroup asset next week in a deal worth more than $1 billion, grabbing a rare opportunity for them to chase big investments in Japan.

The rival Koreas reached a deal on Friday to resume from September reunions of families torn apart by the 1950-53 Korean War, as the isolated North reaches out to its foes after being hit by U.N. sanctions.

For women, feelings of hopelessness are not just unfortunate, they are a stroke risk, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.

China Shenhua Energy Co, China's largest coal producer, posted record quarterly profits on higher sales and output and said it expects a fledgling recovery in China and the region to boost demand.

U.S. special envoy Stephen Bosworth will not visit North Korea if he goes to Asia soon nor does he have plans to meet North Korean officials elsewhere in the region, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

Net sales of emerging market funds rose to 15 billion euros ($21.54 billion) in the first half of 2009 as investors returned in droves after pulling out last year, research firm Lipper FMI said.

PetroChina, the world's most valuable oil and gas producer, said it plans to pump up its refining capacity by two-thirds by 2017, banking on fuel pricing reforms at home to improve its finances as it bids to become a major global refiner.

Facet Biotech Corp (FACT.O) and Trubion Pharmaceuticals Inc (TRBN.O) agreed to jointly develop and market Trubion's experimental drug for a type of blood cancer, the companies said, sending Trubion shares up 76 percent.

U.S. health authorities are turning to social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter in a bid to prepare people to be vaccinated against the pandemic H1N1 virus.

Democrats scrambled on Thursday to quickly fill the seat of Senator Edward Kennedy,

The Obama administration unveiled new rules on Thursday for searching computers and other electronic devices when people enter the United States, attempting to address concerns about violating privacy and constitutional rights.

Oil rose above $73 a barrel on Friday, lifted by slightly better than expected GDP and jobs data out of the United States, though traders said it was still rangebound between $70 and $75 for the week.

California police in a press conference on Wednesday revealed a detail timeline of the events surrounding the murder playboy model and suicide of Ryan Jenkins.

U.S. consumer confidence fell to its lowest in four months in August on worries over high unemployment and dismal personal finances, though the mood managed to improve from earlier this month, a survey showed on Friday.

Phillip Garrido, 58 the kidnapper of Jaycee Lee Dugard, 29 who kept her isolated for 18 years, asked people to wait for the entire story at what happened at the house before making judgments, during an interview with KCRA3 Thursday night.

U.S. consumer spending edged up in July, lifted by the government's cash-for-clunkers program that fueled demand for autos, offering hope a rise in consumption will help fuel an economic recovery.

Wall Street was set to open sharply higher on Friday after an improved revenue forecast from Intel Corp and better-than expected quarterly profit from Dell Inc boosted the technology sector and consumer spending rose in July.

Aug 28 - Specialty pharmaceutical company Eurand NV (EURX.O) said U.S. health regulators approved its pancreatic enzyme product, Zenpep, to treat the inability to digest food due to a lack of enzymes made by the pancreas

California police said blood stains were found inside the abandoned Mercedes belonging to Jasmine Fiore on Wednesday in a press conference where a detailed timeline of the events was revealed.

Apple's iPhones will go on sale later this year in China, the world's largest mobile market, its partner China Unicom confirmed on Friday, after the country's No. 2 mobile carrier posted first-half profits that fell 45 percent yet beat expectations.

* Futures for the Dow Jones industrial average DJc1, the S&P 500 SPc1 and the Nasdaq 100 NDc1 stock indexes are up from 0.2 to 0.4 percent, pointing to a higher start when the U.S. markets open on Friday.

NEW YORK - Progress Energy Inc's (PGN.N) 838-megawatt Crystal River 3 nuclear power unit in Florida was back at full power early Friday, up from 77 percent of capacity late Thursday, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in its power reactor status report.

WASHINGTON - U.S. drug reviewers questioned a Genzyme Corp (GENZ.O) study meant to back wider use of the company's Clolar leukemia drug, according to documents released on Friday ahead of an advisory panel review.

Tiffany & Co reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings on cost cuts, and the retailer raised its full-year outlook as demand for jewelry increased, sending its shares up more than 7 percent.

NEW YORK - U.S. stock futures rose on Friday after a better-than expected quarterly performance from computer maker Dell Inc (DELL.O) boosted the technology sector ahead of key U.S. consumer data.

A debate is emerging over how curbs on energy market speculation may impact oil prices, with at least one major bank boldly expecting the new rules will trigger a 30-percent price plunge.

Stock futures rose on Friday after a better-than expected quarterly performance from computer maker Dell Inc boosted the technology sector ahead of key U.S. consumer data.

Upscale jeweler Tiffany & Co posted a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday as it squeezed out costs and saw a modest improvement in demand for its pricey baubles.