Business Editors:

Among the stories for Friday from The Associated Press:

TOP STORIES

ECONOMY

WASHINGTON — New jobless claims fell more than expected for the second straight week, but the number of Americans continuing to receive unemployment insurance benefits rose above 6 million for the first time. Meanwhile, housing construction plunged to the second lowest level on record in March, providing a sobering sign that the worst housing slump in decades has not yet ended.

AP Photos.

EARNS-JPMORGAN CHASE

NEW YORK — JPMorgan Chase's first-quarter profit was not as good as last year's, but it told investors what they wanted to hear: Banking is not dead. By Business Writer Madlen Read.

EARNS-GOOGLE

SAN FRANCISCO — Google Inc. will likely report its weakest quarter of revenue growth yet, further underscoring the depths of this recession. Even so, the Internet search leader's results, due after the market close, are expected to be far better than most companies have been. By Business Writer Michael Liedtke.