CORRECT: Stocks end quarter with worst losses since 2002

Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2008 21:06:03 (GMT)

CORRECT: Stocks end quarter with worst losses since 2002

U.S. stock indexes climb, with financials leading the way on Citigroup's
restructuring and the proposed consolidation of U.S. regulators, but
equities chalk up their worst quarter in more than five years.

Schering-Plough, Merck shares take a hit over Vytorin study

Investors react harshly to the release of additional details from an
unflattering study of cholesterol drug Vytorin, leaving shares of
Schering-Plough and Merck battered.

Tesco puts the brakes on U.S. expansion of Fresh & Easy

Britain's Tesco is halting for three months the expansion of its U.S.
operation Fresh & Easy, the food-retailing unit meant to carve out a
niche between convenience stores and the massive warehouse-style
retailers.

Pernod Ricard snaps up Absolut Vodka parent for $8.3 billion

Pernod Ricard is buying Sweden's Vin & Sprit AB, the owner of Absolut
Vodka, for 5.63 billion euros ($8.9 billion) in a move to catch up to
larger rival Diageo. .

Japan's March tankan survey to reveal deepening gloom

HONG KONG
An influential Bank of Japan survey is expected to show on Tuesday that
confidence among Japan's larger manufacturers deteriorated sharply in
the three months ending March 31 as a slowing U.S. economy, rising yen
and higher energy and food prices undermine business conditions.