MICHIGAN

Stocks were set for a lower open on Friday after sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in May, stirring fears the economic recovery was losing some steam.

Stock index futures were little changed on Friday, with the benchmark S&P 500 on track for its best weekly performance in a month ahead of data on retail sales and consumer sentiment.

Stock index futures were little changed on Friday, with the benchmark S&P 500 on track for its best weekly performance in a month ahead of data on retail sales and consumer sentiment.

A leading Senate critic of China's currency policy said a group of her colleagues were determined to push legislation allowing the Commerce Department to use anti-dumping and countervailing duty laws against China's exchange rate.

The percentage of U.S. home sellers who cut their asking price rose in May, but price reductions were smaller, real estate website Zillow.com said in a report.

The European bailout of Greece may have prevented catastrophic results but Europe needs to take further action to resolve the region's debt crisis, Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said on Thursday.

Lending to small businesses is declining, making it more difficult to counter the persistent problem of high unemployment, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.

Lending to small businesses is declining, thus making it more difficult to come to grips with the persistent problem of high unemployment, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said on Thursday.

The Australian Dollar has come off from its recent high on Friday night of 0.8550 as investors trimmed their positions ahead of the long weekend in the US (Memorial Day today) and the UK (May Bank today as well).

U.S. consumer spending unexpectedly stalled in April after six straight months of gains, but rising income and consumer confidence pointed to solid consumption this quarter.

As Wal-Mart Stores Inc employees chant the corporate cheer at the company's annual meeting this year, Wall Street is less enthusiastic about the retailer's U.S. sales trailing a fitful economic recovery.

Consumer spending unexpectedly stalled in April after six straight months of gains, but rising income and consumer confidence pointed to solid consumption this quarter.

Consumer sentiment rose a bit in May from April but stayed roughly unchanged from levels reported since February, while the one-year inflation expectations climbed to the highest since October 2008, a survey showed on Friday.

Consumer sentiment rose a bit in May from April but was roughly unchanged from levels since February, while the one-year inflation expectations also climbed, a survey showed on Friday.

Consumer spending was unexpectedly flat in April after six straight months of gains, but growing consumer confidence in the economic outlook suggested consumption will remain strong this quarter.

U.S. state April unemployment rates were higher than a year ago in most states but fell from March 2010 levels in dozens of states, the Labor Department reported on Friday, as recession-fueled joblessness eased.

Crude oil prices plunged nearly 4% on Friday and were off almost 20% from their 18-month high less than two weeks ago, as the euro continued to lose ground against the dollar and U.S. oil inventories continued to build.

Retail sales rose and industrial production powered ahead in April, further evidence the economic recovery was strengthening and broadening out.

U.S. retail sales rose and industrial production powered ahead in April, further evidence the economic recovery was strengthening and broadening out.

U.S. consumer sentiment edged up in May from April, in line with forecasts, while one-year inflation expectations were at their highest since June 2009.

Chrysler Group LLC would need time to find a permanent and stable replacement for providing auto loans if it loses access to bank financing it shares with General Motors Co, Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said on Thursday.