Manufacturing contraction slows in April, ISM says

Date: Fri, 01 May 2009 12:03:37 -0400

Manufacturing contraction slows in April, ISM says

The factory sector contracts again in April, but the pace of decline
slows, according to the Institute for Supply Management index.

CITI SELLING JAPANESE UNIT IN $7.9 BLN DEAL

Citigroup says Friday it's selling its Japanese domestic securities
business to Sumitomo Mitusi Banking Corp. in a deal with a total cash
value of 774.5
billion yen ($7.9 billion).

CONTINENTAL TO HALVE ITS MEXICO FLIGHT CAPACITY

Continental Airlines says it will roll back half its capacity for flights to
Mexico, making it the first major airline to respond to traveler panic
and flight cancellations due to the deadly virus swine flu.

ECONOMIC REPORT: JAPAN PRICES FALL IN MARCH, UNEMPLOYMENT RISES

Japan's core consumer price index falls 0.1% in March, the first
year-over-year decline since late 2007, raising concerns of a possible
deflationary spiral.