ForexSphere

Europe may join the United States in leaving recession when growth figures come out next month — but lackluster jobs and inflation data released Friday strongly suggest the continent’s hoped-for recovery will be slow and fragile.

Oil prices fell to below $79 a barrel Friday as the strengthening U.S. dollar outweighed news that the U.S. economy grew again in the third quarter after contracting for a full year.

WASHINGTON—-The Washington Post Company today reported net income of $17.1 million for its third quarter ended September 27, 2009, compared to net income of $10.4 million for the third quarter of last year.

The ChiNext stock market , China’s long-awaited Nasdaq-style second board, debuted on Friday with a speculative surge that more than doubled the price of all 28 stocks during intraday trade — a good sign for companies lining up to list on China’s stock markets.

The euro edged lower against the dollar Friday but the American currency was expected to remain weak as improving economic news encouraged investors to leave the safety of the dollar.