(Reuters) - France's push to use more European Central Bank money to fight the euro zone debt crisis ran into strong resistance from Germany and other EU partners on Friday, leaving Paris increasingly isolated before a crucial summit. The rift between Europe's two biggest powers has already forced leaders to tack on an extra summit in the coming week.

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(Reuters) - General Electric Co reported earnings that met Wall Street expectations, but its shares slipped 1.4 percent as investors worried about declining profit margins at its energy equipment division. The decline -- to a rate of 13.7 percent from 16.5 percent a year earlier -- reflected weak demand for electric turbines holding down selling prices at the largest U.S. conglomerate's biggest industrial unit.

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(Reuters) - Billionaire investor Carl Icahn wants Navistar International Corp (NAV.N) to consider merging with rival Oshkosh Corp (OSK.N), though he has not yet made a formal proposal to either company, several people familiar with the situation said. Icahn, who has amassed 10 percent stakes in each of the companies, is currently in discussions with Navistar about getting one or more seats on the board of the U.S. truck and engine maker, these people said.

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(Reuters) - A former Wall Street banker of Japanese descent has emerged as a key figure in the scandal engulfing Japanese blue-chip firm Olympus Corp, according to documents provided by the firm's ex-CEO. The veteran banker, Hajime 'Jim' Sagawa, owned an obscure U.S. financial firm which was hired by the endoscope-maker five years ago to provide what later turned out to be stunningly expensive advice, a fee of $687 million, the documents show.

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(Reuters) - The Dow and S&P 500 slightly added to gains and the Nasdaq pared losses on Thursday after data on manufacturing activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region, housing market and a research group's leading index of economic indicators. The Dow Jones industrial average .DJI gained 32.32 points, or 0.28 percent, to 11,536.94. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index .SPX added 2.92 points, or 0.24 percent, to 1,212.80. The Nasdaq Composite Index .IXIC was down 10.92 points, or 0.42 percent, to 2,593.12.

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(Reuters) - The European Union has agreed that around 100 billion euros is needed to recapitalise the European banking system, but splits remain before a high-profile summit on Sunday over how to strengthen the euro zone's bailout fund. EU officials told Reuters all 27 member states had agreed that just short of 100 billion euros ($138 billion) was required to bolster bank balance sheets and protect against the threat of a default in Greece or elsewhere, while a banking source said the figure was more than 90 billion.

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(Reuters) - Factory activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region rebounded in October and the number of Americans claiming new jobless benefits fell last week, fresh signs that the economy was likely to duck a new recession. Optimism over the economy was, however, tempered by other data on Thursday showing a drop in sales of previously owned homes last month and only a small rise in a gauge of future growth.

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(Reuters) - Some potential buyers of Yahoo Inc are balking at the Internet company's demands for confidentiality that would prevent them from discussing joint bids, according to several people close to the situation. Yahoo advisers Goldman Sachs and Allen & Co informed interested parties this week of a "no cross talk" provision, part of a non-disclosure agreement that must be signed to gain access to Yahoo's sensitive financial data, the sources said.

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(Reuters) - AT&T Inc's (T.N) quarterly revenue fell short of Wall Street estimates, as wireless customers spent less than expected in the quarter ahead of the latest Apple Inc (AAPL.O) iPhone launch. Shares in the No. 2 U.S. mobile provider fell slightly early on Thursday on concerns about a slowdown in wireless revenue growth, despite strong iPhone sales early in the fourth quarter.

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(Reuters) - The Nasdaq fell on Wednesday after technology heavyweight Apple missed earnings expectations, while the other big indexes were little changed after a run-up in the last session on a report Europe would beef up its crisis fund. Apple Inc's (AAPL.O) revenues and profits came in below estimates for the first time in years as it sold far fewer iPhones than expected. The stock fell 5.2 percent to $400.50.

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