Asia stocks slip as oil hovers near record
HONG KONG (Reuters) - Asian stocks slipped on Friday as record high crude oil prices threatened to jeopardize earnings and curb consumer spending, with the uncertain economic outlook following U.S. jobs data boosting safe-haven government bonds. This week has been punctuated by stagflation fears and deteriorating sentiment after the Dow Jones industrial average slipped into a bear market this week, down more than 20 percent from October highs, joining Asia markets and pushing investors into safety-first mode. More »Economy extends job loss streak
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. employers cut workers for a sixth straight month in June for the longest such streak since 2002 and the country's vast service sector unexpectedly contracted, underscoring the economy's frailty. More »Former Refco CEO gets 16 years in prison
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Phillip Bennett, the former chief executive of Refco, was sentenced to 16 years in prison on Thursday for fleecing investors of more than $2.4 billion in a fraud that destroyed the world's largest independent commodities broker. More »