NEW YORK - US STOCKS drifted downward on Friday, with the tech sector in focus after disappointing results from computer maker Dell on the heels of a downgrade of several key semiconductor stocks.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 10.95 points (0.11 per cent) in opening trades to 10,321.49 after two consecutive losing sessions.

TAIPEI - TAIWAN is setting an economic growth target of about 4 per cent for next year after the island suffered from its steepest downturn this year, the island's top state planner said on Friday.

The state planning body, called the Council of Economic Planning and Development, also aims to keep inflation at 0.9-1.0 per cent in 2010, said chairman Tsai Hsung-Hsiung, after consumer prices fell on an annual basis for most of this year.

DUBAI - THE United Arab Emirates will see economic growth of up to 3 per cent next year, the country's economy minister said on Friday, reiterating that growth would be a more tepid 1.3 per cent this year.

Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri was speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum meeting in Dubai.