International stocks trading in New York closed lower on Friday,
with the Bank of New York index of American depositary receipts
falling 0.4% to 153.97. The European index slipped 0.1% to 154.61,
the Asian index dropped 0.5% to 144.74, the Latin American index
fell 2.1% to 280.53 and the emerging markets index fell 1.4% to
279.65. Among the companies with shares that actively traded was
Gold Fields Ltd. (GFI, GFI.JO).
South African gold producer Gold Fields is in talks to cut 500
jobs at its sole mine in the country, a union official said Friday,
news that comes just after two fatalities at the mind forced the
company to temporarily stop most production. Shares added 0.9% to
$3.54.
Reports that nearly 12,000 jobs are threatened at Siemens AG
(SI, SIE.XE) are incorrect, Chief Executive Joe Kaeser said in a
letter to employees seen by The Wall Street Journal on Friday. At
an investor conference in New York a day earlier, Mr. Kaeser
remarked that some 11,600 jobs could be affected by restructuring
at the German industrial conglomerate. While the overhaul unveiled
this month will lead to changes in the company's structure, the
remarks don't translate into 11,600 job cuts, the CEO said. Shares
edged up 0.1% to $132.92.
Norwegian oil group Statoil ASA (STO, STL.OS) said Friday it can
start exploration on the Apollo prospect of the Barents Sea after
Norway authorities rejected an appeal from environmental group
Greenpeace against the activities. Shares slipped 0.7% to
$30.50.
Write to Anna Prior at anna.prior@wsj.com
Subscribe to WSJ: http://online.wsj.com?mod=djnwires