AP - Asian stock markets tumbled Tuesday, with Hong Kong's benchmark down more than 3 percent, after weak U.S. manufacturing figures knocked confidence in a quick recovery from global recession.

AP - World stock markets fell Tuesday, with Japan's benchmark tumbling nearly 3 percent, after weak U.S. manufacturing figures knocked confidence in a quick recovery from global recession.

AFP - Europe's leading stock markets opened higher on Tuesday, with London's FTSE 100 index of leading shares gaining a marginal 0.09 percent to reach 4,329.72 points.

Reuters - Best Buy Co Inc shares slid 4.2 percent to $37.03 on Tuesday after the electronic retailer reported first-quarter earnings and comparable store sales.

AP - European stock markets steadied Tuesday following big losses around the world over the last 24 hours as investors have grown increasingly cautious about the likelihood that the recent rally in equities will continue through the summer.

AFP - Europe's main equity markets gained slightly on Tuesday after news that investor confidence in recession-hit Germany had hit a three-year high point, dealers said.

AP - Smithfield Foods Inc., the nation's largest hog producer and pork processor, posted a smaller-than-expected fiscal fourth-quarter loss Tuesday as pork sales remained stable. The company said the swine flu outbreak had no significant impact on results.

AP - Winnebago Industries Inc., the biggest motor home manufacturer, is scheduled to report fiscal third-quarter results on Thursday. The following is a summary of key developments related to the period.

AP - Investors remain cautious but are finding some room for optimism a day after a stock market slide.

AP - Best Buy Co. Inc. reported Tuesday that its first-quarter profit fell 15 percent, even as its biggest competitor exited the market, as recession-weary shoppers cut back on items like appliances and digital cameras.

Reuters - 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.

AP - Growing fears over a falling dollar and rising commodity prices kept the market's spring rally on hold Tuesday.

AP - Lackluster data on the economy is keeping the market's spring rally on hold.

AP - Best Buy Co. Inc. reported Tuesday that its first-quarter profit fell 15 percent — even as Circuit City, a key competitor, closed the last of its stores — because recession-weary shoppers were still limiting big-ticket purchases.

AP - Software maker Adobe Systems says its fiscal second-quarter profit and sales declined amid weaker demand in the economic downturn.

AP - Federal regulators on Tuesday reached a settlement with disgraced money manager Bernard Madoff that prohibits him from working in the securities industry.

Reuters - Bernard Madoff, who ran the biggest investment fraud in history, was allowed to settle civil fraud charges with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission without having to admit any wrongdoing.

AP - Patience Wheatcroft, a former editor for The Times of London and The Sunday Telegraph, was named Tuesday as The Wall Street Journal's editor-in-chief for Europe.

Investor's Business Daily - Bernard Madoff, who pleaded guilty to a $65 bil investment scam this year, settled civil SEC fraud charges. The deal bars him from investment activity, but includes no fines. The scandal turned a harsh light on the SEC, which was vilified over its failure to detect Madoff's massive pyramid scheme despite red flags raised to its staff by outsiders over the course of decade. Madoff, 71, who once was chairman of the Nasdaq Stock Market, is in jail awaiting criminal sentencing on June 29.

Investor's Business Daily - Despite the recession, some tech firms still have their heads in the clouds.