MARKETWATCH FRONT PAGE U.S. employment fell by 159,000 in September, the worst job losses since March 2003, the Labor Department reported Friday. See full story. Indications: U.S. futures edge up as House readies vote, Wachovia finds deal U.S. stock futures pointed to a moderate rise on Friday after a troubled week, with the market reacting to a report showing 159,000 jobs lost in the last month, a new buyout deal for Wachovia and the upcoming House of Representatives vote on the $700 billion bailout package. See full story. Wachovia agrees to Wells Fargo's $15 billion stock-swap offer Wells Fargo and Wachovia announce plans for $15 billion stock-swap merger, becoming the latest big financial institutions to pair up in the face of the credit crisis. See full story. AIG may sell off non-core assets as it seeks to repay Fed American International Group plans to refocus on its core property and casualty insurance businesses and is looking into the sale of other units as it seeks to repay a massive loan from the Federal Reserve. See full story. Asia Markets: Tokyo's Nikkei 225 ends below 11,000 in broadly weaker Asia Asian markets fall broadly on recession fears to close the trading week. Losses for Japan's Nikkei 225 are pegged at 8% for the week, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng surrenders 5.4% over the same interval. See full story. MARKETWATCH COMMENTARY David Callaway: Looking past the bailout to an October surprise Lehman. AIG. Merrill Lynch. Washington Mutual. Wachovia. HBOS. Fortis. Bradford & Bingley. Wall Street. The City. Ireland. Iceland. Belgium. Holland. Germany. France. Luxembourg. Bank runs in Hong Kong and India. See full story. MARKETWATCH PERSONAL FINANCE FundWatch: Fund outflows could result in tax hits for investors Mutual fund investors, facing large losses due to the market downturn, may also be hit this year with a high tax bill as redemptions create capital gains for their funds.

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