AP - Stocks dipped Monday in Japan, the only major Asian market open Monday amid a slew of regional holidays, as investors braced for key earning results this week from Sony, Honda and other major names.

AP - Royal Philips Electronics NV, the world's largest lighting maker, on Monday reported a fourth-quarter loss of euro1.47 billion ($1.9 billion) and blamed weak global economic conditions for poor business performance, asset write-downs and restructuring charges.

Reuters - Stock index futures pointed to a flat to slightly higher open on Wall Street on Monday, as investors braced for monthly housing data and a flurry of corporate results.

Reuters - Stock index futures cut gains on Monday as worrying outlook comments from bellwether Caterpillar Inc offset enthusiasm about a multi-billion dollar takeover in the pharmaceutical industry. Caterpillar, a maker of bulldozers and excavators, forecasts 2009 profit to drop significantly from 2008. The company also says it initiated actions which will remove about 20,000 workers from its business.

AP - European markets rose Monday despite a drop in Asia, with an upbeat trading report by Barclays sending its shares up a stunning 65 percent and boosting investors' confidence in the ailing banking sector.

AP - Wall Street found room for optimism Monday as news that drug maker Pfizer will acquire rival Wyeth showed dealmaking is possible in a recession.

Reuters - Caterpillar Inc said on Monday that quarterly earnings fell more than 32 percent as the downturn that began in the United States metastasized into a full-blown global recession that hit sales of its earth-moving construction and mining equipment.

AP - Oilfield services provider Halliburton says its fourth-quarter profit fell 32 percent from a year ago, as a potential government settlement cut into earnings.

AP - Wall Street found some room for optimism Monday as news that the drugmaker Pfizer will acquire rival Wyeth for $68 billion showed dealmaking is possible in a recession.

AP - European markets rose Monday despite an expected anemic open on Wall Street, as an upbeat statement from Barclays bank sent its shares up a stunning 53 percent and boosted investors' confidence in the ailing banking sector.

AP - Share prices on the London Stock Exchange were higher at midday Monday.

AP - McDonald's Corp. reported a 23 percent drop in its fourth-quarter profit on Monday because of a year-ago tax benefit, but strong same-store sales helped the hamburger chain beat Wall Street's expectations.

Reuters - McDonald's Corp reported a better-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday though revenue fell short of Wall Street expectations due to a stronger dollar, and its shares fell more than 2 percent.

AP - Kimberly-Clark, the maker of Huggies diapers and Kleenex tissues, said Monday that its fourth-quarter profit fell 8 percent as the dollar grew stronger and consumers spent less in the face of varied economic woes.

AP - Wyeth said Monday its fourth-quarter profit declined 5.6 percent as it said it is being acquired by Pfizer in a $68 billion deal and broke off acquisition talks with Crucell NV.

AP - Pfizer Inc. said Monday its fourth-quarter profit plunged 90 percent on a hefty legal settlement for investigations into the company's marketing practices and a decline in sales.

Reuters - Writedowns of more than 1 billion euros pushed Philips Electronics deep into the red in the fourth quarter, and it will cut 6,000 jobs to cope with a steep downturn that has hurt its consumer business.

AP - Caterpillar Inc., the world's largest maker of mining and construction equipment, said Monday its fourth-quarter profit plunged 32 percent, and that it expects sharply lower results this year as the world economy continues to contract.

AP - Investors are growing optimistic on Pfizer's plans to acquire rival drugmaker Wyeth and a surprise jump in sales of existing homes in December.

AP - McDonald's Corp. proved on Monday that its burgers and fries can still tempt thrifty consumers around the world despite a deepening recession that has chomped on the profits and sales of its pricier sit-down competitors.

AP - European markets closed sharply higher Monday following an upbeat open on Wall Street and reassuring news from the battered banking sector.

AFP - Shares in London rallied on Monday with sharp gains in the banking sector as investors welcomed the announcement from Barclays that the group did not need a government bailout.

AP - Caterpillar Inc.'s fourth-quarter profit dropped 32 percent as the global economic slowdown undermined demand and forced the heavy equipment maker into more job cuts and diminished profit expectations for the year.

Reuters - Writedowns of more than 1 billion euros pushed Philips Electronics deep into the red in the fourth quarter, and it will cut 6,000 jobs to cope with a steep downturn that has hurt its consumer business.

AP - A mix of corporate news sent Wall Street zigzagging Monday. Stocks rose on optimism about Pfizer's acquisition of rival drugmaker Wyeth but fell on earnings reports that pointed to further weakness in the economy. Late in the day, the major indexes were holding on to moderate gains.

Reuters - McDonald's Corp reported a quarterly profit that handily topped Wall Street estimates, but said it saw growth in some overseas markets soften as a U.S.-led recession went global.

AP - AT&T Inc. reports its fourth-quarter results on Wednesday. The following is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period.

AP - McDonald's Corp. proved on Monday that its burgers and fries can still tempt thrifty consumers around the world despite a deepening recession that has chomped on the profits and sales of its pricier sit-down competitors.

AP - World stock markets closed higher Monday following an upbeat performance on Wall Street and reassuring news from Europe's battered banking sector.

AP - Amgen Inc., the world's largest biotechnology company by revenue, said Monday its profit grew 15 percent in the fourth quarter, mostly due to lower expenses.

AP - American Express Co. said Monday that its profit tumbled 79 percent in the fourth quarter as cardmembers cut back their spending amid the harsh economy and the company took a significant severance-related charge.

AP - Wall Street has managed an advance the hard way — zigzagging on a mix of earnings and economic news Monday before closing moderately higher. The major indexes reversed direction several times, rising in response to Pfizer Inc.'s $68 billion planned acquisition of Wyeth. And the National Association of Realtors said existing homes rose rather than fell in December.