AFP - The dollar was range-bound against other currencies in Asia on Friday ahead of a speech from Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke and amid worries over the world's top economy, dealers said.

AFP - Asian stock markets were sluggish on Friday following a lacklustre session on Wall Street and mixed economic data from Japan.

AFP - Federal Reserve chief Ben Bernanke will offer a fresh assessment Friday of the weakening US economy as the government is expected to slash nearly half of projected growth for the second quarter.

AP - The government is about to confirm what many people have felt for some time: The economy barely has a pulse.

AFP - Two former Asiana Airlines executives were indicted in New York on Thursday for a price-fixing scheme involving economy class airfares for travel between the United States and South Korea.

AFP - Stock markets in Europe and the United States fell hard Tuesday, following earlier losses in Asia, on news of a surprising erosion in US consumer confidence that sparked fears for global recovery.

AP - Americans, worried about jobs and the sluggish economic recovery, are losing confidence, causing a widely watched index to tumble in June and raising concerns about consumer spending in the critical months ahead.

AFP - The London stock market dived by more than 3.0 percent on Tuesday, mirroring steep losses elsewhere on the back of weak US data and mounting global economic jitters, dealers said.

Reuters - Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Tuesday named Bill Simon to run its U.S. discount stores, which have struggled with sluggish sales as their core customer continues to be pressured by high unemployment.

AP - Oil prices plummeted Tuesday as ebbing consumer confidence in the economic recovery set off concerns about gasoline demand for the busy summer season.