AFP - Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer says he is confident the technology industry is buffered from the US economic crisis.

NewsFactor - They're back. Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox lost some users with the debut of Google's Chrome browser, but they are returning. Just three weeks after its launch, Chrome is seen as not so polished and is losing some users, according to Net Applications, an Internet tracking company.

Reuters - Stocks tumbled on Monday as investors worried a $700 billion bailout for the financial sector may not resuscitate a slumping economy, while a record spike in oil prices renewed concern about consumer spending.

Reuters - Microsoft Corp , Hewlett-Packard Co and Nike Inc said on Monday they plan to buy back up to $53 billion of their own shares at a time when most U.S. companies are slowing the rate of share repurchases to hoard cash over liquidity concerns.

AP - Chaos in the money markets gave Microsoft Corp. an opening Monday to announce it would take on debt for the first time, launch a new $40 billion stock buyback plan and raise its dividend.

Reuters - Shares of Microsoft Corp jumped 5.1 percent to $26.45 in trading before the opening bell on Monday, after the company raised its quarterly dividend and set a $40 billion share repurchase plan.