Global

 G20 To Share Tax Information By 2015. G20 members say they expect to begin automatically sharing tax information by the end of 2015. The system of information sharing forms part of plans to tackle global tax evasion. In a communique published on Friday, G20 leaders said they would take steps to close loopholes that allow legal tax avoidance by big businesses. They also pledged to help developing nations tackle tax evasion by helping them track funds in tax havens. More than 50 countries have signed up to an international convention to facilitate exchange of information on tax issues. (BBC)

Asia

 China Trade Rebounds In Further Sign Economy Stabilizing. China’s exports increased more than estimated in August, adding to evidence the world’s second-largest economy is rebounding after a two-quarter slowdown. Overseas shipments rose 7.2 % from a year earlier, the General Administration of Customs said in Beijing yesterday. That compares with the 5.5 % median estimate of 46 economists surveyed by Bloomberg News and July’s 5.1 % gain. Imports rose a less-than-estimated 7 % from a year earlier, leaving a trade surplus of more than $28 billion. (Bloomberg)

USA

 US Employment Rises Again In August. The US added 169,000 new jobs in August, fewer than expected by many analysts. The unemployment rate fell to 7.3%, down from 7.4% in July, the lowest level since December 2008. But the US Labor Department said this was because more Americans stopped looking for work. It comes ahead of the September meeting of the US Federal Reserve, at which policymakers are widely expected to begin cutting stimulus measures. (BBC)

Europe

 UK Trade Deficit Doubles In July To £3.1bn. The UK trade deficit has doubled in July from the previous month, according to the Office for National Statistics. The gap between imports and exports for July, £3.085bn, was more than double June's trade gap of £1.256bn. It was also the biggest monthly deficit in trade since October 2012. The deterioration was partly due to a plunge in exports to countries outside the European Union. Exports to those nations fell 16% - the biggest monthly fall in more than four years. (BBC)

 German Exports Record Unexpected Fall In July. German exports unexpectedly fell in July as the nation delivered less to its eurozone neighbours. Seasonally adjusted exports fell by 1.1% in July from June. Economists were expecting a 0.7% rise. Exports to eurozone nations, which buy approximately a third of Germany's exports, fell by 0.7% compared with the same month last year. Germany's exporters helped the nation avoid recession and are behind the acceleration of economic growth. (BBC)

 Greek Economy Shrinks At Slowest Pace Since 2010. Greece's economy shrank 3.8 % in the second quarter, the smallest annual decline in nearly three years and helped by a rebound in tourism, adding to signs the long economic slump may be bottoming out. The second-quarter data, released by the statistics service ELSTAT on Friday, marked the smallest decline in GDP since the third quarter of 2010 and was better than an initial estimate in August of a 4.6 % contraction. It followed a 5.6 % slump in the first quarter, bringing the annual contraction in the first half to 4.7 %. Officials expect revenues to rise by 10 % in 2013 to 11 billion euros on a record 17 million visitors this year, a million more than last year. In another encouraging sign, exports rose for the first time in five quarters, although the increase was slight, but imports fell sharply, partly reflecting still very weak domestic demand. Imports plunged 11.8 % in the second quarter from a year earlier, while exports rose by a very modest 0.9 %. (Reuters)

 Cyprus Economic Contraction Worst Since Mid-1970s. The struggling economy of Cyprus has suffered its worst annual contraction since the mid-1970s, according to official figures. Its economy shrank 5.9% in the second quarter compared to the same period last year, more than expected. And it fell 1.8% between April and June compared with the first quarter - the eighth successive quarterly fall. In March, the European Union and the International Monetary Fund agreed a 10bn-euro bailout for Cyprus. (BBC)

Currencies

 Dollar Drops On Jobs; Mexican Peso, Aussie Rise. The U.S. dollar slipped against major rivals Friday as the U.S. added fewer jobs than expected in August, with downward revisions in the June and July employment figures. The dollar immediately fell to an intraday low of ¥98.77 after the jobs release, from ¥99.66 just before, according to FactSet data. The greenback fetched ¥99.09 in recent trade compared to ¥100.08 late Thursday, for a weekly gain of 1%. The euro rose to $1.3177 from $1.3121, while the British pound jumped to $1.5627 from $1.5589 late Thursday. The euro lost 0.3% against the greenback this week while the pound rose 0.9% against its U.S. rival. Also, the dollar fell more than 1.5% against the Mexican peso after the Mexican central bank unexpectedly cut interest rates. The dollar bought 13.16 pesos in recent trade, down from 13.39 late Thursday. The ICE dollar index, a gauge of the greenback’s strength against six rivals, declined to 82.206 from 82.618 late Thursday. Meanwhile, the Australian dollar bought 91.86 U.S. cents from 91.23 U.S. cents late Thursday, ahead of Australia’s federal election on Saturday. The Aussie was a strong performer this week, gaining 3.2% against its American counterpart. The dollar bought 65.238 rupees in recent trade, down from 66.115 rupees late Thursday. The greenback rose to 11,150 rupiah from 11,100 rupiah. (Market Watch)

Commodities

 Oil Edges Firmer Ahead Of U.S. Jobs Data. Global oil prices edged firmer above $115 a barrel on Friday, with investors looking to expected U.S. jobs data that could move the Federal Reserve closer to unwinding a massive stimulus programme that has boosted commodities. October Brent rose 22 cents to $115.48 a barrel by 0948 GMT. U.S. WTI crude oil for October delivery rose 34 cents to $108.71. (Reuters)

 Gold Up As U.S. Job Growth Disappoints, But Posts Weekly Loss. Gold rose 1.5 % on Friday after weaker-than-expected U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased confusions over when the Federal Reserve will start paring back its massive bond-buying stimulus. Spot gold was up 1.5 % to $1,387.46 an ounce by 2:43 p.m. EDT (1843 GMT). Among other precious metals, silver was up 2.8 % at $23.80 an ounce. Platinum gained 0.9 % to $1,491.74 an ounce, while palladium was up 1.3 % at $693.71 an ounce. (Reuters)