Stock market today: Global shares mostly slip, while oil prices advance

Global shares have retreated although export-related Tokyo stocks got a boost as the dollar strengthened against the Japanese yen. U.S. futures edged lower while oil prices rose nearly $1. The yen has weakened amid speculation that the Bank of Japan might go slowly on changing its lax policy stance as it assesses the impact of Monday's major earthquake in central Japan. A weak yen helps Japanese exporters by boosting the value of their overseas earnings. Investors are awaiting the release of a comprehensive report on the jobs market from the U.S. Labor Department later Friday. Economists expect it to show U.S. hiring slowed to 160,000 jobs last month from 199,000 in November.