New York 

Amman

Beijing  - Shares on China's largest stock market lost nearly 4 per cent of their value on Friday, plunging to the lowest point for more than one year, as analysts blamed panic selling.

Wellington  -  The New Zealand Stock Exchange demanded assurances on Friday

Tokyo - Stocks opened lower in Tokyo Friday as investors sold shares to lock in

New York  - Stocks slipped across the board on Thursday after Pfizer Inc's earnings trailed estimates and Merrill Lynch investment bank reported net losses of 1.96 billion dollars.