AP - Stocks fell sharply Friday after a series of depressing economic and corporate reports as well as high oil prices stoked concerns about the health of the economy. The major stock indexes fell more than 2.5 percent and the Dow Jones industrials lost 315 points.

Reuters - The dollar fell to a record low against a basket of currencies on Monday, dragging Asian stock markets down and compounding worries about a likely U.S. recession and more write-downs in the global financial sector.

AP - Japan's main stock index fell 4.5 percent Monday to a five-week low, tracking Wall Street's losses at the end of last week amid persistent concerns about the U.S. economy.

AP - Staples Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit dipped as the world's largest office products supplier suffered declining North American retail sales offset by gains in its overseas and delivered products businesses.

AP - French bank Credit Agricole SA reported it swung to a hefty loss Wednesday for the fourth quarter, another European bank forced to write-down billions from the U.S. mortgage crisis.

AP - H&R Block Inc., the nation's largest tax preparer, said its third-quarter loss shrunk on higher revenue and smaller losses from the windup of its subprime mortgage lending subsidiary and other charges.

AP - Japanese stocks tumbled Friday as investors sold exporter issues after the dollar weakened further against the yen. Real estate companies and banks also lost ground.

AFP - With economic news getting bleaker by the day and worries growing about credit markets seizing up, Wall Street investors have been scurrying for cover.

Reuters - Hong Kong blue chips were expected to drop further on Monday after suffering their worst week in six years, as U.S. job figures heightened recession fears.

Reuters - Wall Street analysts are forecasting flat earnings growth for U.S. companies in the first and second quarter, a survey by Reuters Estimates shows.

AFP - A late rally lifted Asian stock markets Tuesday as bargain hunters emerged despite fresh losses overnight on Wall Street sparked by growing credit worries, dealers said.

AP - Asian stocks rose Wednesday as investors welcomed the move by the U.S. Federal Reserve and other central banks to ease pressure on the world's credit markets.

AP - Japan's main stock index plunged to its lowest close in 2 1/2 years Thursday, as market anxieties were stirred by the dollar's dive against the yen and by persistent concerns about the U.S. economy.

AP - Japan's main stock index extended losses Friday to a fresh low for the year as traders sold exporter issues because of the weak dollar.

AP - Wall Street is facing a paradox as the damage from the credit crisis spreads — the more investors find out about the problems caused by billions of dollars in failed mortgages and investments, the more unknowns seem to crop up. The Street is hoping that this week, the Federal Reserve and the fallout from the near-collapse of Bear Stearns Cos. provide some answers instead of more new questions.

Reuters - Asian stocks sank on Monday to their lowest level since August 2007 and the dollar tumbled, as the fire sale of ailing U.S. bank Bear Stearns and the Federal Reserve's emergency cut in its discount rate intensified concerns that there could be more victims of the global credit crisis.

AP - Stocks were poised to open higher Tuesday as investors anticipated a massive interest rate cut from the Federal Reserve just two days after the central bank backed JPMorgan's buy of Bear Stearns and also loosened up its lending.

AP - Asian stock markets opened sharply higher Wednesday as investors welcomed a hefty U.S. interest rate cut and a rally on Wall Street overnight.

AP - Asian stock indexes fell in early trading Thursday as investors took a cue from overnight losses on Wall Street.

AP - Wall Street capped a week of remarkable volatility with a big advance Thursday that left stocks higher for the week but didn't silence all of investors' concerns about the economy and the financial system.

Reuters - The blockbuster initial public offering of Visa Inc -- the largest ever in the United States -- will do little to revive the slowing IPO market, which has been dampened by investors spooked by the credit crisis.

Bloomberg - March 24 (Bloomberg) -- Taiwan's stocks and currency surged after Ma Ying-jeou won the presidential election on pledges to forge closer ties with China and boost domestic spending.

AP - Most Asian markets rose Tuesday as investors returned from the Easter holiday in a mood to buy after encouraging U.S. housing numbers and an overnight rally on Wall Street.

AFP - London shares fell at the start of trading on Wednesday after Wall Street had ended mixed overnight.

Reuters - Stocks dropped on Wednesday as financial shares slid when concerns resurfaced that bank profits will take much longer than expected to recover from the housing slump.

AP - Japan's stock market rose to its highest level in two weeks Friday as last-minute buying before the end of the fiscal year lifted a wide range of blue chips, including electronics and financial shares.

TechWeb - A soft semiconductor market and a weak global economy contribute to gloomier outlook.

AFP - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said the government would promote a stable and healthy development of the country's stock markets, state media reported Monday.