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Stocks Dip as Investors Fret About Recovery 36 minutes ago

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks fell for a third straight day on Friday as investors took weaker-than-expected results from computer maker Dell and homebuilder D.R. Horton as a further sign that the recovery would be anemic.

Rio's Cloud Peak Down In Debut, Others Fare Better 3:52 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors bet on growth opportunity in the IPOs of a Chinese hotel chain and an online education company on Friday, but saw murkier prospects for a spin-off of mining giant Rio Tinto, sending its shares lower.

Black Friday Deals May Not Signal Retail Comeback 3:18 PM ET

CHICAGO (Reuters) - When the U.S. holiday shopping season kicks off on the day after Thanksgiving, retailers can expect to see millions of less frightened but even more bargain hungry customers cross their thresholds.

U.S. Q3 Seen Revised Down on Widening Trade Deficit 2:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy's return to growth in the third quarter was less brisk than previously thought as the trade deficit worsened and companies still aggressively cut inventories, a Reuters survey predicted.

Ex - Vivendi CEO Messier Testifies: Losses Not Fraud 2:41 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former Vivendi CEO Jean-Marie Messier told a U.S. jury he "never, never, never" committed fraud as he took the stand on Friday in a civil trial pitting international shareholders against the French conglomerate and former top executives.

U.S. Lawmakers Urged to Drop Clearinghouse Owner Cap 2:08 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - NYSE Euronext , LCH.Clearnet, BATS Global Markets and other firms partnered with banks have urged two U.S. legislators to drop a proposed "rigid" cap on dealer ownership of clearinghouses, according to a letter sent this week.

Existing Home Sales Seen At Highest Since July 2007 1:06 PM ET

New York (Reuters) - Sales of existing U.S. homes likely rose for second consecutive month in October, reaching their highest level since July 2007, according to a Reuters poll, as buyers scrambled to take advantage of greater affordability and a first-time home buyer tax credit.

D.R. Horton Results Miss Estimates 12:59 PM ET

The homebuilder reported a much larger-than-expected quarterly loss of $231.9 million, but said that orders had increased.

Cautious Optimism as Job Losses Slow In U.S. States 12:55 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The pace of job losses slowed in many U.S. states in October, and the unemployment rate slipped in hard-hit Michigan, the Labor Department said on Friday, hinting the recession may be easing in some areas.

Ferrero, Hershey Weigh Cadbury Split - Source 12:14 PM ET

PHILADELPHIA/LONDON (Reuters) - Cadbury Plc suitors Ferrero and Hershey Co have weighed breaking the UK confectioner up into separate businesses as part of a friendly, all-cash bid, a source familiar with the situation said on Friday.

J.M. Smucker Brews Q2 Beat With Folgers Coffee 11:29 AM ET

BANGALORE (Reuters) - J.M. Smucker Co , best known for its peanut butter and jelly, posted higher-than-expected quarterly results, driven by strong margins at its Folgers coffee business, and raised its full-year profit view, sending its shares to a new 52-week high.

Vivendi Stake Sale In NBCU Hinges on Price, Timing 11:15 AM ET

NEW YORK/PARIS (Reuters) - Talks on the sale of Vivendi SA's NBC Universal (NBCU) stake to General Electric Co hinge on when Vivendi would get paid as well as how much, people familiar with the matter said on Friday.

U.S. Layoffs Fall In October 11:10 AM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of mass layoffs reported by U.S. employers fell last month from September, a government report showed on Friday, suggesting job losses were close to bottoming.

Rio Tinto Unit Cloud Peak Falls In NYSE Debut 10:20 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Cloud Peak Energy Inc , a unit of Rio Tinto Plc, fell in its debut on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday after its shares priced below expectations in the U.S. coal miner's initial public offering.

Goldman Holders Seek Bonus Pool Reduction: Report 10:07 AM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Some big Goldman Sachs Group Inc shareholders have asked the U.S. bank to cut what could be the biggest bonuses in its history to pass more profit onto investors, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.

P&G Repurchasing Shares, Quiet on Potential Deals 9:33 AM ET

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Procter & Gamble Co does not see acquisitions as a core part of its growth plan and has started to buy back shares again, Chief Financial Officer Jon Moeller said on Friday.

Trichet Warns Banks Risk Addiction to Support 8:57 AM ET

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - Banks risk becoming addicted to cheap central bank cash used to fight the financial crisis and must prepare for its eventual withdrawal, the head of the ECB warned at a Frankfurt banking conference on Friday.

Ann Taylor Reverses Loss, but Is Cautious on Holiday 8:39 AM ET

The clothing retailer reported lower-than-expected quarterly revenue and gave a cautious forecast for the current holiday quarter, sending shares down.

Oil Falls $1 A Barrel to Below $77 7:53 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Oil fell $1 a barrel to below $77 on Friday, pressured by a firmer U.S. dollar and as falling equities raised concern about the economy and the outlook for energy demand.

Dell Bets on Corporate Spending For Recovery 7:28 AM ET

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Dell , the world's No.3 PC brand, said on Friday that its core business of selling computers to companies was returning, after a sharp drop-off during the global downturn led to disappointing quarterly results.

World Stocks And Dollar Both Gain 3:55 AM ET

LONDON (Reuters) - Financial markets saw a rare breakdown in correlations on Friday with world stocks eking out modest gains after the previous sessions losses but the dollar strengthening.

Big Shareholders Ask Goldman to Cut Bonuses: Report 12:44 AM ET

(Reuters) - Some of Goldman Sachs Group Inc's largest shareholders have asked the company to cut the size of its bonus pool and pass along more of its profits to investors, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the situation.

Burkle Buys Barneys New York Debt: Report 12:36 AM ET

(Reuters) - Supermarket mogul Ron Burkle and his investment arm, Yucaipa, have purchased a large amount of U.S. luxury retail chain Barneys New York's debt, the Wall Street Journal said, citing people familiar with the matter.

Asia Shares Dip In Shift to Safety 11:00 PM ET

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian shares fell on Friday and the dollar firmed as investors took profits on riskier assets after U.S. data raised fears that a global economic recovery could lose momentum.

GE, Vivendi $1 Billion Apart Over NBC Universal Stake: Report 10:55 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - General Electric and Vivendi are at least $1 billion apart in their valuation of the French group's stake in NBC Universal, the Financial Times said on Thursday.

Bank of Japan Holds Steady on Rates 10:45 PM ET

The Bank of Japan kept interest rates on hold and upgraded its assessment of the economy on Friday despite government grumbling that its forecast of a moderate recovery is too rosy.

Mixed Day For IPOs as Rio Unit Disappoints 10:09 PM ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors proved to be selective as four U.S.-listed initial public offerings priced either below or at their expected ranges on Thursday evening.

Bank Bill Delayed In House, Senate Divided 9:06 PM ET

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Progress toward tighter U.S. financial regulation faltered in the U.S. Congress on Thursday as a House committee postponed a pivotal vote and Republicans on a Senate committee aired stubborn opposition.

AOL Shows Worst Not Over For Media Job Cuts 8:20 PM ET

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - If AOL's announcement on Thursday of another 2,500 job cuts is anything to go by, the painful layoffs that have ravaged the media industry over the past year are nowhere near over.

Chrysler Could Lose More Than 100 U.S. Dealerships 8:08 PM ET

DETROIT (Reuters) - More than 100 Chrysler Group LLC U.S. dealerships face possible closure if they cannot reach new financing deals with GMAC Financial Services or another lender, people involved in the process said on Thursday.

Fed Sees Little Risk Of Inflation In Weak Economy 7:54 PM ET

WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) - Senior U.S. Federal Reserve officials said on Thursday inflation is not an immediate threat as a weak economic recovery and a grim outlook for jobs keep price pressures in check.