Japan's Nikkei share average edged down on Friday in choppy trade, but declines were limited as the mood was supported after the dollar rose to a six-year high against the yen following the European Central Bank's monetary easing steps.

The National Football League's opening game between Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the Green Bay Packers drew 26.9 million viewers on average, NBC said on Friday, making it one of the most-watched TV programs of the year.

Ford Motor Co will recall 191,770 cars in China from Friday to replace some parts after a quality watchdog found a fuel leak risk in the Ford Focus, the country's best-selling compact sedan.

A majority of Wall Street's top bond firms see the Federal Reserve starting to raise interest rates by the second quarter of next year, showing slightly more aggressive expectations compared with a month ago, a Reuters survey showed on Friday.

U.S. job growth slowed down sharply in August and more Americans gave up the hunt for work, giving a cautious Federal Reserve more reasons to wait a bit longer before raising interest rates.

New Orleans lawmakers cleared online for-hire car firms such as Uber on Thursday to offer luxury taxi-like services in the city, handing the fast-growing sector a partial legal victory.

Thirty-four Bosnian coal miners were trapped half a kilometer underground on Friday after an earthquake triggered a rock burst, leaving rescue teams struggling to clear debris to reach them.

Huawei Technologies Co Ltd [HWT.UL] unveiled on Friday a slate of new devices meant to showcase the Chinese company's hardware technology, just days before Apple Inc releases its highly-anticipated iPhone 6 on Sept 9.

BP should be able to meet the cost of up to $18 billion of new fines for the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill without major asset sales or a big cut in its dividend, analysts say.

Four technology companies including Apple and Google blasted a U.S. judge for rejecting a proposed $324.5 million settlement over hiring practices in Silicon Valley and asked an appeals court to intervene, according to a court filing.

On one side, the founder of top miner Goldcorp Inc (G.TO), his young apprentice, an aggressive securities lawyer, and a tiny company based in a Quebec mining town. On the other, the chief executives of two leading Canadian gold miners, fresh off one of the biggest deals of their careers.

A man who helped to promote bitcoin wants to remain in the business despite pleading guilty Thursday to indirectly helping send more than $1 million in the digital currency to users of the illicit online marketplace Silk Road, his lawyer said.

Google's (GOOGL.O) antitrust deal with EU regulators was criticized by Microsoft (MSFT.O) and other competitors in a last-ditch attempt to influence European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia before he leaves office at the end of October.

Canada is likely to choose between two major U.S. firms when it buys a new fleet of jet fighters, excluding two European competitors, according to a source with direct knowledge of the matter.

U.S. stocks ended down on Thursday, retreating from intraday records for the S&P and Dow, as a decline in energy shares sapped an earlier rally following the European Central Bank's new stimulus measures.

U.S. companies hired fewer workers than expected in August, but the trend in job growth remained consistent with a sturdy economic performance in the third quarter.

In the last week of August, Twitter entertained dozens of potential young recruits at a chic studio, while Facebook served drinks and snacks to job-seekers at its own office. More than 175 showed up to a similar event at Google in June.

Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Natural Resources Minister Ashti Hawrami on Thursday said it would take more than a year to repair the Baiji Refinery after it was damaged in a series of attacks by Islamic State militants since June.

Newmont Mining Corp has signed a deal with the Indonesian government that will allow for the resumption of copper concentrate exports next week, the head of the firm's local unit said on Thursday, ending an eight-month tax dispute.

Logitech said it would make minor adjustments to past earnings due to erroneously booking inventories, bringing an end to a three-month investigation without any financial penalties or hit to current results.

Goldman Sachs (GS.N) is reviving plans to issue at least $500 million worth of Islamic bonds, a sign that Islamic finance is going mainstream as big conventional banks seek to tap Middle Eastern money.

Nissan Motor Co (7201.T) is recalling 55,000 vehicles in Japan over a glitch in the gasoline engine starter motor, the company said on Thursday.

Oregon researchers developing a vaccine that has shown promise in preventing HIV infection in primates said on Wednesday they have been awarded a $25 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has scored high on overall performance during his first three months in office, but many are disappointed with his new administration's efforts to bring down inflation, an opinion poll showed.

German lender Commerzbank AG (CBKG.DE) is nearing agreement with U.S. authorities over its dealings with Iran and other countries under U.S. sanctions, sources familiar with the matter said.

The leading vodka brands in the United States are losing their buzz as craft distillers and other alcoholic drinks infringe on their turf.

Asian shares steadied near seven-year highs on Thursday, underpinned by hopes of a ceasefire in Ukraine, although a cautious mood prevailed for now ahead of a European Central Bank meeting later in the session.

U.S. stocks ended mostly down on Wednesday, as a decline in Apple shares dragged the Nasdaq lower and investors held off on big bets before the European Central Bank's upcoming policy meeting.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn has sold his entire stake in Family Dollar Stores Inc (FDO.N), making a profit of about $200 million on the investment, according to sources familiar with the matter on Wednesday.

Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the world's biggest mobile phone maker, unveiled new versions of its Galaxy Note smartphone on Wednesday after previous design miscues cost it customers in the large-screen phone market it pioneered.