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Amazon's Kindle 2 electronic reader retails for $359 but costs about half that amount to build, research group iSuppli Corp said on Wednesday.

Royal Bank of Scotland is in talks with three banks interested in buying its Asian retail and commercial banking assets as it pulls back to core markets, a person familiar with the matter said.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprising drop in retail sales dented hopes the recession was abating and financial shares slid on fears that Goldman Sachs' share offering could prompt others to follow suit.

Hopes of seeing the end to the recession were crushed on Tuesday at the U.S. retail sales saw an unexpected drop of 1.1 percent in March compared to the previous month, the Commerce Department said.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprising drop in retail sales dented hopes the recession was abating and financial shares slid on fears that Goldman Sachs' share offering could prompt others to follow suit.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell 1.1 percent in March after rising for two straight months, government data showed on Tuesday, dimming hopes the 16-month-old recession was close to hitting bottom.

Stocks fell on Tuesday as a surprising drop in retail sales dented hopes that the recession was abating and financial shares slid on fears that a stock offering by Goldman Sachs could prompt others to follow suit.

Stocks extended losses on Tuesday as worries about consumer spending were stoked by an unexpected drop in retail sales and investors sold off financial shares.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell 1.1 percent in March after rising for two straight months, government data showed on Tuesday, dimming hopes the 16-month-old recession was close to hitting bottom.

Stocks fell on Tuesday after an unexpected drop in retail sales dampened recent optimism over the state of the U.S. economy.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in March, snapping two months of increases, as motor vehicle and electronic good purchases declined, according to a government report on Tuesday that indicated subdued consumer spending amid rising unemployment.

Sales at U.S. retailers fell in March, snapping two months of increases, a government report showed on Tuesday, indicating the recession was far from hitting bottom as mounting unemployment depress consumer spending.

Stocks opened lower on Tuesday after data showed retail sales and producer prices came in worse than expected in March, offsetting earnings from Johnson & Johnson.

Sales at U.S. retailers unexpectedly fell in March, snapping two months of increases, as motor vehicle and electronic good purchases declined, according to a government report on Tuesday that indicated subdued consumer spending amid rising unemployment.

U.S. retailers will continue to face difficulties in the second quarter as both traffic and sales levels are expected to post steady declines versus the same period last year, according to retail research and information company ShopperTrak.

A Florida utility and a real estate developer are aiming to bring the country's first solar-powered city to the Sunshine State.

Major U.S. retailers likely ended March with lackluster sales as consumers put off Easter and Spring purchases for April.

Major U.S. retailers likely ended March with lackluster sales as consumers put off Easter and Spring purchases for April.

The retail sector is in contraction, fueled by the recession, mounting job losses and a sharp drop in consumer spending. Retail businesses are scaling back operations, closing stores and trimming demand for space.

The struggling U.S. economy probably continued to bleed jobs at a rapid rate in March, continuing to drive up the jobless rate at a startling pace.

The struggling U.S. economy probably continued to bleed jobs at a rapid rate in March, continuing to drive up the jobless rate at a startling pace.