AP - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, denied a report Friday that it had pressured employees to vote against Democrats in November because of worries that a bill the party supports would make it easier for workers to unionize.

AP - The nation's unemployment rate climbed to a four-year high of 5.7 percent in July as employers cut 51,000 jobs, dashing the hopes of an influx of young people looking for summer work.

Reuters - Citigroup Inc said on Friday the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has opened a formal probe into possible violations of federal securities laws in connection with the sale of auction-rate securities.

Reuters - The U.S. unemployment rate hit its highest level in four years during July as employers cut jobs for a seventh straight month, though less severely than predicted, a Labor Department report showed on Friday.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Friday as a rise in oil prices and a hefty quarterly loss from General Motors stoked fear that the economy is slouching toward recession and soured the outlook for corporate earnings.

Reuters - General Motors Corp reported a $15.5 billion quarterly loss on Friday as North American sales dropped by 20 percent and resale prices for SUVs coming off lease plunged.

Reuters - Yahoo Inc Chairman Roy Bostock says there was never any doubt about the position of Yahoo board about its openness to doing a deal with Microsoft.

AFP - German retail sales fell by 1.4 percent in June from the previous month, provisional figures released on Friday by the national statistics office showed, confirming a slump in household consumption.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Thursday, led by Exxon Mobil after its earnings fell short of Wall Street's expectations and as disappointing economic data revived fears of a U.S. recession.

Reuters - British Airways' profit collapsed in the first quarter as high oil prices, an economic slowdown and weak consumer confidence combined in what the airline called the worst trading conditions it had ever experienced.

Reuters - General Motors Corp investors expect the No. 1 U.S. automaker to post a steep second-quarter loss on Friday, reflecting the pressure from a deepening downturn in the U.S. auto industry.