U.S. stocks end lower; Dow still scores weekly gain of 0.9%

Date: Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:01:04 (GMT)

U.S. stocks end lower; Dow still scores weekly gain of 0.9%

U.S. stocks falter, with the nerves of investors frayed and their
expectations reduced for next week's Federal Reserve meeting, which
already weighed in with an emergency rate cut earlier this week.

Hedge Funds: Hedge fund concerns weigh on markets; Numeric denies
problems

SAN FRANCISCO
Concerns about poor hedge fund performance in January weighed on the
U.S. stock market on Friday, with experts particularly worried about
so-called quant funds.

Democrats head for decision in South Carolina

WASHINGTON
South Carolina's Democrats go to the polls to choose their White House
nominee on Saturday with surveys showing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama
comfortably ahead of rival Hillary Clinton in the Palmetto State.

Speculation mounts over bid for weakened Societe Generale

Societe Generale's shock $7.1 billion fraud loss has reignited
speculation that it will be bought, with the likes of BNP Paribas and
Barclays touted as potential bidders, though finding the cash for a deal
could be tough.

Caterpillar's CEO rejects pervasive gloom at Davos forum

DAVOS, Switzerland
Citing strong growth in emerging economies and expectations for no worse
than a mild U.S. downturn, the CEO of Caterpillar Inc. says he's escaped
the economic gloom enveloping the annual meeting of the World Economic
Forum.