AFP - Japan Airlines shares plunged by 81 percent to just seven yen (eight US cents) on Wednesday, hit by a flood of sell orders on fears the ailing carrier will be delisted from the bourse.

Reuters - China's monetary tightening and disappointing corporate earnings put downward pressure on world stocks on Wednesday, combining to present investors with two of their biggest concerns.

AP - World stock markets retreated Wednesday as China's move to curb its torrent of bank lending spurred fears of slower economic recoveries in other countries.

AFP - European stock markets fell sharply Tuesday as investors reacted to weak earnings data from US aluminium producer Alcoa, which kicked off the latest results season in the world's biggest economy.

AP - World stock markets mostly fell Tuesday after aluminum company Alcoa Inc. kicked off the fourth quarter U.S. corporate reporting season with disappointing earnings and China tightened monetary policy once again.

AFP - The leading stock exchange fell on Tuesday as investors reacted to weak earnings data from US aluminium producer Alcoa, which kicked off the latest results season in the world's biggest economy.

Reuters - Stocks fell on Tuesday, halting a six-day streak of gains, after weaker-than-expected results from Alcoa Inc and on concerns banks could face fees from the government to recoup losses tied to bailouts.

AP - A disappointing profit report from Alcoa and moves by China to curtail growth raised concerns among investors that the global economy will have trouble recovering. Financial stocks also slid on concerns the government would impose taxes on bailed out banks.

Reuters - The Securities and Exchange Commission sued Bank of America Corp for a second time over its takeover of Merrill Lynch & Co, accusing the bank of failing to disclose huge losses at Merrill before shareholders voted on the merger.

AP - Federal regulators sued Bank of America Corp. on Tuesday, accusing the company of failing to disclose "staggering financial losses" at Merrill Lynch before shareholders approved a combination of the companies.