TOP STORIES 
 
IBM REPORTS ANOTHER REVENUE DECLINE

International Business Machines reported a 12% decrease in revenue to $19.59 billion--the company's 12th straight quarter of year-over-year declines--hurt by the stronger U.S. dollar and weakness in its hardware business.

 
GE IN TALKS TO SELL U.S. COMMERCIAL LENDING BUSINESS

General Electric is said to be in talks to sell its biggest lending operation--a $74 billion unit that makes loans to midsize U.S. businesses--as the conglomerate moves quickly to dismantle what was one of the country's largest banks.

 
U.S. STOCKS BOUNCE BACK

U.S. stocks bounced back from Friday's steep declines, lifted by upbeat earnings news and an announcement of more stimulus from China. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 209 points to 18035.

 
MORGAN STANLEY'S RESULTS IMPROVE

Morgan Stanley's 1Q profit rose 59% to $2.39 billion as it benefited from busy markets and a flurry of corporate mergers. Revenue was $9.91 billion, or $9.78 billion excluding accounting adjustments. Results beat estimates. Shares up 1%.

 
EU TO FILE ANTITRUST CHARGES AGAINST GAZPROM

The European Union's competition regulator plans to file formal antitrust charges against Russia's state-owned gas company Gazprom, a person familiar with the matter said, a step set to escalate the standoff between Europe and Moscow.

 
GREECE ORDERS PUBLIC BODIES TO PUT CASH IN CENTRAL BANK

Greece's government issued a decree requiring public bodies such as state-owned companies and public pension funds to transfer their cash reserves to the central bank.

 
U.S., JAPAN TRADE OFFICIALS SAY  PROGRESS MADE ON DEAL

The U.S. and Japan made substantial progress toward a trans-Pacific trade deal in marathon talks that ended early Tuesday in Tokyo, cabinet-level officials from both sides said.

 
TEVA TO PAU $512 MILLION TO SETTLE PROVIGIL LAWSUIT

Teva Pharmaceuticals said it agreed to pay $512 million to settle a class-action lawsuit alleging that a business later bought by Teva delayed the availability of the generic version of the sleep-disorder drug Provigil.

 
U.S. SENDING AIRCRAFT CARRIER TO HELP MONITOR IRANIAN SHIPS

The U.S. military is sending an aircraft carrier to the Yemeni coast to join a growing fleet of ships keeping watch on an Iranian flotilla American defense officials suspect may be carrying arms for Houthi fighters in Yemen.

 
BLACKROCK TO PAY $12 MILLION PENALTY

BlackRock agreed to pay a $12 million penalty to settle claims that its adviser business breached its fiduciary duty by failing to disclose a conflict of interest tied to one of its portfolio managers, the SEC said.

 
ROTHSCHILD MULLS RIVAL OFFER FOR ASIA RESOURCE MINERALS

Asia Resource Minerals's co-founder and major shareholder Nathaniel Rothschild said he's considering a rival takeover offer for the embattled U.K.-listed Indonesian coal miner just days before a high stakes vote aimed at securing the company's future as a going concern.

 
 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Earnings Preview 
NEW MENU, ASIA FOCUS FOR MCDONALD'S EARNINGS

Analysts forecast net income of $1.06 a share, according to Thomson Reuters, compared with $1.21 a year earlier. Analysts forecast net income of $1.06 a share, according to Thomson Reuters, compared with $1.21 a year earlier.

 
The Wall Street Journal 
MORE INVESTORS BET U.S. RATES STAY NEAR ZERO

Futures-market bets that U.S. interest rates will stay near zero have hit the highest level since the "taper tantrum" two years ago, underscoring a broad shift toward dovish sentiment amid softening economic data.