Latest News on private equities market

Oil prices rose on Friday on signs of progress in U.S.-China trade talks and a surprise bounce in Chinese manufacturing activity.

U.S. job growth slowed less than expected in October as the drag from a strike at General Motors was offset by gains elsewhere, while hiring in the prior two months was stronger than previously estimated, offering assurance that consumers would continue to prop up the slowing economy for a while.

Exxon Mobil Corp's third-quarter profit nearly halved, hit by lower oil prices and weaker margins in refining and chemicals, with its three major business reporting lower year-over-year profit.

Chevron Corp reported a 36% drop in third-quarter profit on Friday as the oil major was hit by lower oil and gas prices due to record shale oil output in North America and a slowing global economy.

U.S. stock index futures extended gains on Friday after data showed domestic job growth slowed less than expected in October, adding to optimism spurred by strong manufacturing data out of China.

The United States and China have reached consensus after talks between their main trade negotiators on Friday, Beijing's state-media Xinhua News Agency reported.

British car dealership Lookers said on Friday its top boss and operations chief will step down immediately after weak sales led to a second profit warning in less than four months, sending its shares down as much as 30% and rattling peers.

A wide swath of the U.S. travel and leisure industry is set to provide insight next week on the state of the economy, including trends in consumer spending, fallout from U.S.-China trade tensions and any damaging impact from the stronger U.S. dollar.

U.S. stock index futures gained on Friday as a surprise rise in China's manufacturing activity boosted sentiment, while investors awaited a crucial U.S. jobs report.

Insurer American International Group Inc missed analysts' estimates for third-quarter profit on Friday due to weakness in its life and retirement business.

Brazilian government officials this week tempted airline executives with a pitch: Latin America's largest domestic aviation market is opening up and it badly needs more competition.

Oil prices were little changed on Friday but set for a slide of about 4% on the week hurt by rising global supply and concerns about future demand.

Taste Holdings , owner of Starbucks and Domino's Pizza franchises in South Africa, said on Friday it was abandoning the food business, and had already sold its 13 stores of the coffee chain to a consortium for 7 million rand ($464,000).

Nissan Motor Co on Friday appointed American Stephen Ma as its next chief financial officer, and said that some veteran executives including Hitoshi Kawaguchi were stepping down, marking the latest shake-up at the automaker.

South Africa's Taste Holdings said on Friday it had sold its Starbucks business for 7 million rand ($464,200) and was also considering selling others in its food business, including Domino's Pizza, as part of a new plan to become a luxury retail group.