MANUFACTURING

Stock index futures pointed to a sharply higher open on Friday after the government reported the U.S. economy created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months, infusing optimism into markets.

Hiring in the U.S. accelerated in January for a third month and the jobless rate fell unexpectedly to the lowest point in almost three years, signaling the labor market is gaining momentum.

The economy created jobs at the fastest pace in nine months in January and the unemployment rate dropped to a near three-year low of 8.3 percent, indicating last quarter's growth carried into early 2012.

Stock index futures edged higher on Friday as investors awaited the monthly payrolls report to see whether to make more large bets in risk assets after recent equity gains.

Stock index futures edged higher on Friday as investors awaited the monthly payrolls report to see whether to make more large bets in risk assets after recent equity gains.

The BSE Sensex was subdued on Friday as some profit-taking emerged after the index rose more than 3 percent in the last three sessions, and as weak Asian markets ahead of key U.S. jobs data dented investor sentiment.

Asian shares and the euro fell Friday as caution set in ahead of key U.S. jobs data, which will offer more clues over the state of the world's largest economy, while Greek debt restructuring talks dragged on and undermined sentiment.

Three years ago Gabe Collins was on the front line in Kandahar province, one of the most dangerous places in war-ravaged Afghanistan, conducting search and rescue missions with the U.S. Navy.

Advanced Micro Devices' new chief executive delivered an enthusiastic pitch in his debut before Wall Street analysts, telling them he was getting the struggling PC chipmaker fit to fight in a quick-changing computer industry.

Chrysler Group LLC will bolster its Belvidere, Ill., assembly plant with 1,800 new jobs, Fiat and Chrysler Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne said Thursday. About 500 of those jobs will solely focus on production of the all-new 2013 Dodge Dart, which Chrysler introduced last month at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The rupee hit a three-month high on Thursday, encouraged by gains in domestic equities, and after manufacturing data in China and Germany boosted investor appetite in high-yielding emerging market assets.

The BSE Sensex rose 0.8 percent on Thursday to its highest close in nearly three months after strong manufacturing data in India and other major economies from China to Germany eased growth concerns and bolstered risk appetite.

Audi, the premium car brand of the Volkswagen Group , will launch seven new models in India and expand its dealers' network this year, as it looks to increase sales and market share in the luxury car segment.

European shares steadied after hitting a six-month high on Thursday as strong gains in miners on merger talks between Xstrata (XTA.L) and Glencore (GLEN.L) were offset by a sell-off in defensives, with Unilever (ULVR.L) down on poor outlook.

As word spread about the birth control recall of at least one million pill packets in the U.S. from Pfizer on Tuesday, panic ensued amongst women nationwide about their risk of becoming pregnant. But how do you know if the birth control pills you are taking are part of the recall?

So, Barack Obama visited the Washington Auto Show the other day. Sure, he was probably invited, but it's also part of a larger strategy for his reelection campaign this fall.

Pfizer Inc is reaching out directly to women consumers to warn them about its U.S. recall of one million packets of birth control pills as concerns mounted that a manufacturing error could raise the risk of unplanned pregnancies.

Claims for jobless benefits in the fourth week of January dropped after an uptick in the prior week. Economists said January has historically been more volatile than the rest of the year.

Indiana became the 23rd state to pass anti-union right-to-work legislation on Wednesday and the first in the nation's manufacturing heartland, dealing a blow to organized labor by allowing workers to opt out of paying union dues.

Picture President Barack Obama's reelection campaign as a showroom. Over there, at one stand, is an overall improving economy -- he hopes. And somewhere in the showroom, either as a part of the economy stand or standing on its own, will be the health and restoration of the United States automotive industry. If the past week and a half is any indication, Obama plans to use it as a critical point in his reelection campaign as the industry continues a dramatic recovery from dire straits just mor...

Gold prices Thursday extended last month's rally after positive manufacturing from China to the Europe to the U.S. and Greece appeared close to a settlement with its creditors.