AP - Starbucks Corp. is dialing back expectations for its U.S. stores in light of economic uncertainty but has a three-year plan for snazzy new drinks and future profit growth fueled by aggressive international expansion.

AP - Stock futures were little changed Friday ahead of a government report that is forecast to show the nation's payrolls shrank again in April.

FT.com - I love the price/earnings ratio, but like all investment tools, it is flawed. This is because it is only as good as the numbers that go into it.

AP - Wall Street goes into the new week in an upbeat mood, with investors growing more confident that the economy and the financial markets are heading toward a second-half recovery.

AP - Wall Street headed for a lower open Monday, with investors downbeat about Microsoft Corp. withdrawing its bid for Yahoo Inc. over the weekend.

AFP - Chinese stock markets are bracing for fresh pressure in May when a massive number of new shares will become freely tradable after being locked up under local regulations, state media said on Tuesday.

AP - The Hollywood writers strike hurt TV ratings and ad revenue at The Walt Disney Co.'s ABC network, but not enough to stop the company's second-quarter net profit from growing 22 percent.

AP - Toyota's profit for the fiscal fourth quarter dropped 28 percent from the previous year as a strengthening yen and lagging North American sales chipped away at the Japanese automaker's earnings.

AP - Japan Airlines reduced losses in the January-March quarter from the same period last year on cost cuts but forecast lower profit Friday for this fiscal year, blaming soaring fuel costs and intense competition.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Monday, weighed down by uncertainty over the health of the U.S. economy and surging oil and commodity prices, while Japanese exporters felt the pinch from a stronger yen.

Reuters - Stocks recovered earlier losses on Monday, with Japan rebounding as the yen fell against the dollar and boosted exporters, and Sydney rising 1 percent on optimism over a potential bank takeover.

AP - Chinese shares fell Tuesday and the country's two stock exchanges suspended trading in 66 companies based in the region hit by a major earthquake in an effort to minimize potential disruptions to financial markets.

AFP - Shares in mining giant BHP Billiton hit an all time high on the Australian stock exchange Wednesday on talk that a Chinese entity was seeking a stake in the group.

AP - Sony Corp. shares jumped 9.1 percent in Thursday morning trading, a day after the Japanese electronics and entertainment company released upbeat earnings that included a record fiscal year profit.

AFP - British Airways said Friday its annual net profit more than doubled as it cut costs to help offset record high fuel prices.

AP - After nine months of turmoil that started with the collapse of the subprime mortgage market, Wall Street appears to be at a turning point of sorts.

AP - Wall Street headed for a flat open Monday ahead of a report expected to show the economy remains sluggish amid the continuing housing slump and credit crisis.

AFP - Europe's main stock markets slid on Tuesday, as London was dragged down by losses to heavyweight miners and after falls in Asia and a mixed performance overnight on Wall Street.

Reuters - Maurice 'Hank' Greenberg, former chief executive of American International Group Inc , may face civil charges for his alleged role in an effort to improperly boost the insurer's financials, the Wall Street Journal reported Wednesday.

AP - Sanyo Electric Co., which has been struggling to turn around its scandal-plagued business, swung to profit in the fiscal year through March for the first time in four years, the Japanese electronics maker said Thursday.

AP - Japan's key stock index rose Friday on overnight gains on Wall Street, with sentiment turning more upbeat on a fall in global oil prices.

Reuters - It's been a bloody year for world stocks, but above the fray, Canada stands with Brazil and Mexico as the only countries with unscathed major indexes.

AP - European stock markets edged higher Monday after key Asian markets fell amid worries about high oil prices and the U.S. economy on a day when U.S. markets were closed for the Memorial Day holiday.

AP - Vodafone Group PLC, the world's biggest mobile phone company by sales, announced the surprise resignation of chief executive Arun Sarin on Tuesday as it posted a return to full-year profitability.

Reuters - Britain's Defense Minister Des Browne endorsed peace talks between Pakistan and Taliban militants on Wednesday despite concerns from Afghanistan that the talks will allow the Taliban to regroup and launch more attacks.

AFP - South Korea's government on Thursday dismissed rumours of the death of North Korea's reclusive leader Kim Jong-Il as baseless after they swirled through stock markets.

AP - Growth in Asia and strong sales of notebook computers helped Dell Inc. beat Wall Street expectations for first-quarter sales and profit.

Reuters - The Toronto Stock Exchange's main index pushed almost 1 percent higher on Friday as it rode the strength of resource issues, which benefited from firm commodity prices.