U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says the government will loan $17.4 million to help build 10 wind turbines for a rural Kansas city.

A look at economic developments and activity in major stock markets around the world Friday: —— FRANKFURT — European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet said it is still not time for the bank to start implementing exit strategies from the “extraordinary measures” it has taken amid the global economic crisis.

Citigroup Inc agreed to sell its Phibro energy trading business to Occidental Petroleum Corp for a pittance, allowing the bank to calm regulators who were outraged over a $100 million pay package the unit was obliged to pay a star trader.

BEIJING—-The following is a speech from Rupert Murdoch:

The government is forecasting healthy corn and soybean crops in Ohio and across the country, despite earlier concerns about a cool growing season.

Citing improving corporate demand for technology products, Barclays upgraded the hardware sector to “Positive” from “Neutral” on Friday.

Shares of Acorda Therapeutics plummeted Friday after the Food and Drug Administration issued a negative opinion that questioned the safety and effectiveness of the company’s multiple sclerosis drug.

Shares of Supervalu Inc. dropped Friday after a Barclays Capital analyst downgraded the grocery chain, saying grocery-store promotion wars and increasing sales of lower-priced items are pressuring profit margins.

Stocks staged modest gains on Friday, lifted by supportive comments on technology bellwethers before key earnings reports due next week.

Shares of educational software provider Scientific Learning Corp. surged more than 80 percent in morning trading Friday, after forecasting its third-quarter profit will jump at least tenfold as productivity improved and federal stimulus money flowing to school districts led to record sales.