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Citigroup shares drop as CEO plans to keep Smith Barney (Reuters)

Reuters - Citigroup Inc shares tumbled for a fifth straight day, as Chief Executive Vikram Pandit tried to downplay speculation the banking giant might sell major businesses to restore its health and investor confidence.

Dow and S&P edge up but Citigroup slides (Reuters)

Reuters - The Dow and S&P 500 were higher in choppy trading on Friday as investors snapped up cheap shares in battered down sectors, including commodities and energy, a day after Wall Street slid to 11-year lows.

Wal-Mart's Scott retiring as CEO, Duke to succeed (Reuters)

Reuters - * Lee Scott to retire as CEO February 1

Bailout debate simmers as GM pares output (Reuters)

Reuters - Detroit automakers began work on the turnaround plans demanded by Congress in return for a possible $25 billion rescue as General Motors Corp said it will cut production more deeply and drop two of its controversial corporate jets.

Hundreds wait at Verizon stores for BlackBerry Storm (Reuters)

Reuters - Hundreds of people lined up at some Verizon Wireless stores on Friday to buy the BlackBerry Storm, the first touch-screen phone from Research In Motion that aims to compete with Apple's iPhone.

FTSE-100 up 27.94 at 3,902.93 (AP)

AP - Share prices on the London Stock Exchange were higher at midday Friday.
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Report: Ford Germany needs no state bailout money (AP)

AP - Bernhard Mattes, chief of Ford Motor Co.'s German unit, said that while the company can survive without a bailout from the German state, it hopes the European Union will help the ailing auto industry with a loan package.
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Wal-Mart names Duke to succeed Scott as CEO (AP)

AP - Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the world's largest retailer, unexpectedly announced Friday that its chief executive will retire in February and be replaced by the head of its international division.