FALL

Most stocks in Asia edged lower on Wednesday, weighed down by resource-related shares and doubts about a global economic recovery, while oil slipped below $70 a barrel ahead of U.S. inventory data that could reflect slowing energy demand.

Best Buy Co Inc posted lower first-quarter earnings and weaker-than-expected sales on Tuesday and implied earnings for the rest of the year would be worse than forecast, dragging its shares down more than 7 percent.

Best Buy Co Inc posted lower first-quarter earnings and weaker-than-expected sales on Tuesday and also implied earnings for the rest of the year would be worse than forecast, dragging its shares down 3 percent.

Investment in renewable energy will likely drop 38 percent worldwide in 2009, an official from the International Energy Agency said on Monday from Bucharest at the Eurelectric annual convention.

Technology shares led Wall Street's drop on Friday after National Semiconductor's disappointing results, but a rise in defensive sectors like healthcare limited losses in the Dow and S&P 500.

Wall Street was set to open lower on Friday as commodity prices eased and investors looked ahead to key consumer confidence data for insight into prospects for the recession easing.

Oil topped $71 a barrel on Wednesday, after settling above $70 for the first time in seven months on a larger-than-expected fall in crude oil stocks and a forecast that falling oil demand may have bottomed.

Oil raced toward $71 a barrel on Wednesday, after settling above $70 for the first time in seven months on a larger-than-expected fall in crude oil stocks and a forecast that falling oil demand may have bottomed.

McDonald's Corp posted lighter-than-expected May sales at U.S. restaurants open at least 13 months, sending shares of the world's biggest hamburger chain and its rivals lower on Monday.

McDonald's Corp on Monday reported a 5.1 percent increase in May sales at restaurants open at least 13 months, with demand strong in Europe and Asia/Pacific.

The 10-year U.S. Treasury yield hit a seven-month high on Monday ahead of fresh supply this week and because of speculation the Federal Reserve may have to raise interest rates sooner than anticipated.

U.S. employers cut 345,000 jobs last month, the fewest since September and far less than forecast, according to a government report on Friday that was more evidence the economy's severe weakness was diminishing.

Fewer U.S. workers filed new claims for jobless benefits for a third straight week last week and productivity rose faster than expected in the first quarter, data showed on Thursday, supporting budding hopes that the recession is losing force.

Fewer U.S. workers filed new claims for jobless benefits for a third straight week last week and productivity rose at a stronger-than-expected pace in the first quarter, data showed on Thursday, supporting budding hope that the recession was losing force.

U.S. stock index futures rose on Thursday after data showed the number of people filing new jobless claims declined for a third straight week.

Asian equities fell from eight-month highs on Thursday, led by commodity-related shares, after disappointing U.S. private employment and services sector data led investors to trim over extended bets.

Asian equities and metals prices slipped on Thursday, after disappointing U.S. private employment and services sector data led investors to trim over extended bets and look for better points to buy again.

Planned layoffs at U.S. firms fell for a fourth consecutive month in May, reaching the lowest level in eight months and offering another sign that the United States may be pulling out of a steep economic tailspin.

Modine Manufacturing Co , a maker of heating and cooling systems for vehicles, posted a wider quarterly loss, hurt by the economic downturn and low production rates in the auto parts industry.

Despite Memorial Day sales, warmer weather and deals such as $1 flip-flops, most U.S. retailers are expected to post declines in same-store sales in May as shoppers kept hunting for bargains in the recession.

The U.S. Treasury Department said on Monday average lending from about 500 banks that have received government capital injections fell $42 billion in March compared to February.