10 things you should know before the opening bell

Moneycontrol Bureau

In the US markets, aggressive selling extended Thursday's slide erasing weekly gains resulting in a fractional weekly loss. An unemployment report showing the US economy did not gain any jobs in August along with unwinding before the weekend sent stocks plunging 2%.

US markets will be shut today on account of Labour Day.

And in economic data, no nonfarm payroll additions were made during August. That contrasted with the consensus for an increase of 70,000. Even nonfarm private payrolls increased by a mere 17,000, which is far less than the 110,000 that had been generally expected among economists. The unemployment rate held steady at 9.1%.

The US regulator sued 17 major banks over losses of more than USD 41 billion in subprime mortgage bonds. Lawsuits by the federal housing finance agency includes Bank of America's Merrill Lynch unit, Barclays, Citigroup and Nomura.

European stocks tumbled on Friday and snapped their four-day rally after data showed US employment growth ground to a halt in August, rekindling fears that the world's largest economy is slipping into recession.

In the currency space, the dollar advances versus its major counterparts on speculation that European nations will struggle to contain the region's debt crisis, spurring demand for the world's reserve currency.

Oil prices fall with the Brent below USD 112 levels, after US job growth stalled in August, raising the likelihood of economic recession. [In news: Iran says India paid all $5-bn oil debt] 

Meanwhile, gold surged nearly 3% hitting its highest level since last week's record, as investors sought refuge in safe haven assets following a bleak US labour market report. Gold is trading slightly lower in Asia trade at around USD 1,875 levels.

And back home, the Nifty gained 39 points while the Sensex closed up 144 points, both indices closed the week up over 6%. [Investors need certainty to shake off August blues]

Some stock specific action