BANGKOK - World stock markets were mixed Friday as investors digested a slew of disappointing data from the U.S. ahead of the release of a key measurement of the country's economic outlook. Investors were looking ahead to the Conference Board's index of leading indicators for April, to be released later Friday. The index is designed to anticipate economic conditions three to six months out. Analysts hope the figures will balance out several discouraging economic reports released Thursday, including a jump in unemployment aid applications to their highest level in six weeks.

MONTREAL - Alcoa will eliminate about 500 jobs by permanently closing two potlines this summer at its smelter in Baie-Comeau, Que., while also delaying construction of more efficient facilities at the smelter for three years. The company said Thursday that the job cuts will be made through retirements and attrition at the smelter, which currently has about 1,400 employees. One of the potlines had been expected to be shut down later this year and the second in 2015. Instead, they will both be closed by August.

Labour umbrella groups Industrial Global Union and UNI Global Union on Thursday praised top retailers for joining their drive to make Bangladesh's garment factories safer, after 1,127 people died in a factory collapse last month. "This accord is a turning point. We are putting in place rules that mark the end of the race to the bottom in the global supply chain," UNI Global Union's head Philip Jennings said in a statement.

Bangladesh garment manufacturers said Thursday they would reopen hundreds of factories in a hub outside Dhaka, days after they were shuttered due to unrest over the country's worst industrial tragedy. The manufacturers Monday announced the shutdown of the factories in the Ashulia industrial area after two weeks of protests over the death of 1,127 garment workers in the collapse of a nine story complex.