Reuters - World stocks slipped back towards this week's five-month low on Friday as steadying oil prices failed to erase concerns about slowing economic growth and rising inflation, and as banking stocks came under renewed pressure.

Reuters - A Vienna court sentenced nine people to prison on Friday for their roles in causing losses at Austrian bank BAWAG P.S.K. of as much as 1.7 billion euros ($2.7 billion) through risky investments.

AP - The nation lost jobs for a sixth month in a row in June, a storm of pink slips drenching this year's July Fourth holiday for more than 60,000 Americans and leaving thousands more worried about the future.

AP - Origin Energy Ltd., Australia's second largest power retailer, rejected a $13 billion takeover bid Friday from British natural gas producer BG Group.

AP - Between surging oil prices, food inflation and a credit crunch that's depressed global growth, leaders from the Group of Eight economic powers face the gravest combination of economic woes in at least a decade when they gather next week.

Reuters - The European Central Bank's interest rate rise sends a signal that it is serious about combating inflation, policymakers said as they staged a public relations offensive to justify Thursday's increase.

Reuters - Bradford & Bingley plans to increase its rights issue to 400 million pounds ($794 million) after U.S. private equity firm TPG Capital pulled out of a plan to buy a stake, sending its shares lower.

Reuters - British pay-TV firm BSkyB is considering a bid of more than 2.5 billion euros ($4 billion) for Spanish pay-TV platform Digital Plus, the Financial Times said on Friday.