Job cuts

Pioneer (OTC: PNCOY) lowered its earnings forecast for the year ending March and announced its plans to cut its group workforce by around 800. Pioneer now expects a net loss of 4 billion yen ($42.5 million) for the business year. The company had earlier expected a profit of Y1 billion.

AU Optronics (NYSE: AUO) announced its plans to lower 0.5% of its total workforce. AU Optronics will cut around 100 jobs. AU Optronics shares closed at $4.01 on Friday.

Vodafone Group PLC's (NASDAQ: VOD) Australia unit announced its plans to lower about 500 jobs. Vodafone shares gained 0.07% to $27.43 in after-hours trading.

Swiss bank Julius Baer (OTC: JBAXY) announced its plans to lower up to about 1,000 jobs. The bank will cut the combined staff of about 5,700 by 15%-18%. Baer's assets under management climbed to 184 billion Swiss francs ($197.11 billion) at the end of August, versus 179 billion at the end of June...

Motorola Mobility will lower 4,000 jobs, a spokeswoman for Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) said. Motorola Mobility was acquired by Google for $12.5 billion. Google shares closed at $642.00 on Friday.

The Australian unit of Ford Motor Co (NYSE: F) announced its plans to lower up to 440 jobs. The company also announced its plans to cut production by around 30%. Ford shares closed at $9.26 yesterday.

National Australia Bank Ltd (OTC: NABZY) will cut 730 jobs from its UK workforce, according to the Unite union. NAB shares closed at $23.84 yesterday.

Air France (OTC: AFLYY) announced its plans to lower around 10% of its work force by the end of next year. Air France will cut 5,122 jobs by 2013. Air France shares closed at $4.4350 yesterday.

Australia's newspaper publisher Fairfax Media (OTC: FFXLF) announced its plans to lower 1,900 jobs. Fairfax Media shares closed at $0.63 on Friday.

Nokia Corp (NYSE: NOK) announced its plans to cut 10,000 jobs globally and shuffle its top management. It also announced its plans to shut plants by the end of 2013. Nokia shares closed at $2.79 yesterday.

Olympus Corp (OTC: OCPNY) announced its plans to lower about 2,700 jobs by March 2014. For the current fiscal year, Olympus projects to post a net profit of Y7 billion, versus a year-ago loss of Y48.99 billion. For the fiscal year beginning March 2014, it expects a net profit of Y40 billion. It...

Nokian Renkaat announced its plans to cut jobs in Finland. Nokian Renkaat will lower up to 120 jobs in Finland.

Qantas Airways Ltd (OTC: QUBSF) announced its plans to cut 500 engineering jobs. Qantas has announced about 2,000 job cuts since August.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia (OTC: CMWAY) announced its plans to cut jobs. Australia's largest bank by market value will reduce around 100 positions. CMWAY shares closed at $53.50 on Friday.

First Solar Inc (NASDAQ: FSLR) announced its plans to lower 2,000 jobs, or around 30 percent of its workforce. The company also plans to shut down some manufacturing operations. FSLR shares surged 6.20% to $22.11 in pre-market trading.