WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama is rallying support for his plan to expand government assistance to homeowners, pressuring Congress to help lower lending rates for millions of strapped homeowners.

MUNICH (AP) — Italy is now a "safe place" amid market turbulence, Premier Mario Monti said in an interview published Saturday, pressing for Europe to turn its political energy to generating growth rather than further plans to strengthen budget discipline.

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — "Crucial" issues remain to be resolved in Greece's critical negotiations over a second multibillion euro international bailout, and talks would continue into the weekend, the country's Finance Minister said early Saturday.

NEW YORK (AP) — A drop in the unemployment rate to its lowest in three years propelled the Dow Jones industrial average Friday to its highest close since before the 2008 financial crisis. The Nasdaq composite index hit an 11-year high.

NEW YORK (AP) — The Dow Jones industrial average has closed at its highest level since before the 2008 financial crisis.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In a long-awaited surge of hiring, companies added 243,000 jobs in January — across the economy, up and down the pay scale and far more than just about anyone expected. Unemployment fell to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the most impressive surge for the job market since early last year, the United States added 243,000 jobs in January, far more than economists expected. The unemployment rate dropped to 8.3 percent, the lowest in three years.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks jumped sharply in morning trading Friday on news that the unemployment rate dropped to the lowest level in three years. The Dow Jones industrial average gained more than 140 points.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. service companies grew at the fastest pace in 11 months in January as companies started hiring to keep up with rising demand.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are opening sharply higher after the unemployment rate dropped to the lowest in two years.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is bracing for another potential energy crisis in the dead of winter as Russian gas supplies to some of its member states suddenly have dwindled by up to 30 percent.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. employers went on a hiring spree in January and drove down the unemployment rate for a fifth straight month to 8.3 percent, its lowest point in nearly three years.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Employers went on a hiring spree in January and drove down the unemployment rate for a fifth straight month to 8.3 percent, its lowest point in nearly three years.

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock futures jumped after a report on January employment showed the biggest growth in jobs in nine months and an unemployment rate that dropped to 8.2 percent.