Reuters - Vivendi's Universal Music Group, the world's largest music label, on Thursday said it will test the sale of songs from artists such as Amy Winehouse, 50 Cent and the Black Eyed Peas, without customary copy-protection technology.

Reuters - Central banks from Tokyo to Sydney injected extra cash into banking systems or pledged to do so on Friday, as Asia joined a global campaign by monetary authorities to calm panicky credit markets.

Reuters - Asian stocks fell across the board on Friday and the yen extended gains as investors dumped riskier assets following a rout in global markets sparked by a flare-up in credit jitters.

AP - The sluggish sales that have dogged the nation's retailers this year are the result of two quite different sets of problems: Consumers are cautious — they're paying more for gasoline and watching their home values fall. And, the stores just don't seem to have the merchandise that people want to buy.

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) will continue to grow in the U.S. market, but at a slower rate than it has in the past, and is considering targeting young consumers with a premium small car, the automaker's North American sales chief said on Thursday.