BC-APFN-Business News Preview

Among the stories Friday from The Associated Press:

TOP STORIES:

ECONOMY

WASHINGTON — U.S. employers add 248,000 jobs in September, a burst of hiring that help drive down the unemployment rate to 5.9 percent, the lowest since July 2008. The Labor Department report also showed that employers added a combined 69,000 more jobs in July and August than the government had previously estimated. The unemployment rate fell from 6.1 percent in August and is now close to 5.5 percent, which many economists consider a healthy level. By Christopher S. Rugaber. SENT: 750 words, photo.

With:

— FINANCIAL MARKETS — Strong U.S. jobs data drives stocks higher in early trading. The better-than-expected gains also pushed the dollar higher and prices for bonds and gold lower as traders think it more likely now that the Federal Reserve will soon start raising interest rates as the economy improves. SENT: 510 words, photos. UPCOMING: 700 words by 5 p.m.

ISIS-COMPANY NAME

Aeran Brent is tired of visitors asking about her store's name or snapping pictures of the sign outside. Unfortunately, that's life for a small business owner whose shop — Isis Bridal and Formal — shares a name with ISIS, the acronym of a notorious Islamic militant group that the United States is fighting in Iraq and Syria. "Isis" is part of more than 270 product, service or business names among active federal trademarks, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. By Tom Murphy. SENT: 800 words, photos.

CARIBBEAN-ERODING BEACHES

NEGRIL, Jamaica — Tourists from around the world are drawn to a stretch of palm-fringed shoreline known as "Seven Mile Beach," a crescent of white sand along the turquoise waters of Jamaica's western coast. But the sands are slipping away and Jamaicans fear the beach may someday need a new nickname. Shrinking coastline long has raised worry for the area's environmental and economic future. The erosion is expected to worsen as a result of climate change, and a hint of panic is creeping through this laid back village, one of the top destinations in a country where a quarter of all jobs depend on tourism. By David McFadden. SENT: 970 words, photos.

MARKETS & ECONOMY:

TRADE GAP

WASHINGTON — The U.S. trade deficit shrinks for the fourth straight month in August, falling to the lowest level since January as exports rose to an all-time high. The deficit dropped 0.5 percent in August to $40.1 billion, compared to a revised $40.3 billion in July, the Commerce Department reported. By Martin Crutsinger. SENT: 430 words, photo.

ECONOMY-SERVICES

WASHINGTON — U.S. service firms expand at a healthy pace in September although it was slightly below the record pace set in August. By Martin Crutsinger. SENT: 130 words, photo. UPCOMING: 350 words by 10:45 a.m.

INDUSTRY:

SALIX-INVERSION SCUTTLED

Salix Pharmaceuticals is scrapping its merger with the subsidiary of an Italian drugmaker after the U.S. created new limitations on the tax benefits of incorporating overseas. Shares of the drugmaker jumped almost 6 percent before markets. By Tom Murphy. SENT: 450 words.

— JP MORGAN-DATA BREACH —New details on a cyberattack against JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s computer servers this summer add to increasing doubts over the security of consumer data kept by lenders, retailers and others. SENT: 740 words, photo.

OBAMA

WASHINGTON — Boosted by the lowest jobless rate in six years, President Barack Obama is putting a manufacturing focus on his revived economic message, calling attention to industrial gains that have helped restore some higher-wage jobs during the recovery from the Great Recession. Obama visits a steel manufacturer in Princeton, Indiana, as part of a new fall political campaign push to promote his pocketbook policies and to claim credit for the upturn in the economy. By Jim Kuhnhenn. SENT: 560 words, photos, audio, video. UPCOMING: Obama tours steel plant at 2:50 p.m. Will be updated.

— SWITZERLAND-UBS-TAX EVASION — Shares in UBS AG are down after reports the Swiss bank could face a fine of 4.88 billion euros ($6.16 billion) if found guilty of facilitating tax evasion and money laundering in France. SENT: 140 words.

— MEDTRONIC-COVIDIEN FINANCING — Medical device maker Medtronic is switching to $16 billion in financing to complete its purchase of Ireland-based competitor Covidien a few weeks after federal regulators issued rules designed to curb overseas acquisitions that cut tax U.S. tax bills. SENT: 140 words.

— EUROPE-NOVARTIS-ELI LILLY — The European Union's antitrust authority says it has approved the $5.4 billion sale of Novartis' animal health division to U.S. pharmaceutical firm Eli Lilly. SENT: 120 words.

— EUROPE-CHIQUITA-FYFFES — The European Union's antitrust body approves a merger between U.S. banana company Chiquita and Fyffes of Ireland in a deal that creates the world's largest banana supplier. SENT: 140 words.

— FRANCE-AIRBUS — German carmaker Daimler AG and French conglomerate Lagardere SCA are on trial in a Paris criminal court along with seven current and former Airbus executives accused of involvement in insider trading. SENT: 140 words.

— INTERSTATE EGG FIGHT — A federal judge throws out a lawsuit filed by Missouri and five other states asking the court to strike down a California law barring the sale of eggs in the state produced by hens in cramped living conditions. SENT: 500 words.

AUTOS:

— GENERAL MOTORS-RECALLS — General Motors announces two more recalls, pushing its total for the year to 71, affecting almost 30 million vehicles in North America. The biggest of the new recalls covers just over 430,000 Cadillac SRX and Saab 9-4X SUVs, mainly in North America. SENT: 320 words, photos.

PARIS MOTOR SHOW-HOT WHEELS-FERRARI 458 SPECIALE A

PARIS — The top draw at Ferrari's stand at the Paris Motor Show is its 458 Speciale A - 'A' for Aperta, Italian for 'open'. It's what's otherwise known as a spider, with an open top to give drivers the ultimate Ferrari driving experience. Ferrari says the 458 is its most successful V8 sport Ferrari ever, and this limited edition version will no doubt add to that popularity. SENT: 230 words, photo.

With:

— PARIS MOTOR SHOW-HOT WHEELS-LAMBORGHINI ASTERION — Lamborghini's Asterion LPI 910-4 concept was one of the most hotly anticpated unveilings of the Paris Motor Show, and the Italian supercar maker didn't disappoint. SENT: 270 words, photo.

TECHNOLOGY & MEDIA:

— EUROPE-FACEBOOK-WHATSAPP — The European Union's antitrust authority approves Facebook's proposed $19 billion takeover of the messaging service WhatsApp. SENT: 140 words.

INTERNATIONAL:

EUROPE-ECONOMY

LONDON — A contrasting picture of the economic recovery in the 18-country eurozone is emerging. While a closely watched survey found that the recovery proved to be even more subdued than previously thought during September, official European data suggested that consumers were in buoyant mood during August. By Pan Pylas. SENT: 500 words, photo.

With:

— IRELAND-ECONOMY — The Irish Central Bank sharply raises its economic outlook for Ireland but cautions the government not to soften austerity plans in this month's budget, the first to be unveiled since the country's exit from an international bailout. SENT: 370 words, photo.

— BULGARIA-ELECTION — Bulgarians are voting Sunday in a parliamentary election that will determine whether the country continues to build a Russian gas pipeline that would give the Kremlin even more leverage over Europe's energy market — a project the European Union opposes. SENT: 670 words, photos.

— BRITAIN-FRANCE-SPAT — The boss of British retail chain John Lewis has apologized for saying France is "in decline" and "finished." SENT: 160 words.