U.S. stocks slump for second day as jobless count spikes

Date: Fri, 05 Dec 2008 12:01:07 -0500

U.S. stocks slump for second day as jobless count spikes

U.S stocks tally a second straight day of losses after the government
reports a 553,000 drop in payrolls in November.

ECONOMIC REPORT: PAYROLLS PLUNGE BY STUNNING 533,000 IN NOVEMBER

U.S. nonfarm payrolls plunged by 533,000 in November, the worst job
loss in 34 years, the Labor Department reports.

CURRENCIES: DOLLAR RISES AFTER DISMAL NOV. JOBS DATA

The dollar rose against most currencies except the Japanese yen, as a
brutal plunge in November U.S. nonfarm payrolls enhanced the
greenback's safe-haven appeal in the face of an increasingly bleak
outlook for the global economy.

RYANAIR MAY BE CLOSING IN ON AER LINGUS WITH SWEETENED TERMS

The near collapse of the Irish economy and a sweetened sales pitch may
finally allow Ryanair Holdings, Europe's largest low-cost airline, to
bag rival Aer Lingus Group after a two-year wait.