HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian stocks edged down and the U.S. dollar drifted higher on Friday, as investors braced for the December U.S. payrolls data, expected to show sharp job losses and dash hopes for a speedy recovery this year.
WEST NEWTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - The U.S. recession looks to be longer and more severe than originally thought, but there are signs that the economy will improve in the second half of 2009, a top Federal Reserve official said on Thursday.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc has reached an agreement in principle to sell its merchant banking business, made up of two private equity funds, to management of the funds, a source familiar with the situation said on Thursday.
(Reuters) - A report being released on Friday alleges that the U.S. Treasury has failed to reveal its strategy for stabilizing the financial system, not answered questions asked by a government watchdog, and has done nothing to help struggling homeowners, the Wall Street Journal said.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc is nearing the end of its search for a new chief executive officer, with a decision coming possibly as soon as next week, the Wall Street Journal reported late Thursday, citing people close to the internet company.
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