Reuters - Stocks tumbled on Thursday, driving the S&P 500 down to its third-straight weekly loss, as a steeper-than-expected slide in June non-farm payrolls revived caution about economic recovery prospects.

Reuters - U.S. employers cut far more jobs than expected last month and the unemployment rate hit 9.5 percent, the highest in nearly 26 years, underscoring the likelihood of a long, slow recovery from recession.

Reuters - Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay $1 billion for an 18.4 percent stake in Irish drugmaker Elan Corp , and will acquire a major stake in Elan's portfolio of experimental drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Reuters - A federal bankruptcy judge will decide the immediate fate of General Motors Corp's effort to quickly sell its best assets to a group funded by the U.S. government, after a three-day court hearing concluded on Thursday.

Reuters - Magna's (MGa.TO) board of directors is scheduled to approve on Tuesday a business plan for the acquisition of German carmaker Opel, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday.

AP - World stocks mostly fell Thursday as investors braced for a crucial U.S. jobs report that could set the tone in markets for the coming few days at least.