TOP STORIES 
 
GLOBAL STOCK MARKETS SELL OFF

Global stocks slumped and European bond yields touched fresh lows, driven by a new round of jitters over Greek finances, a crackdown on stock-market borrowing in China and a flurry of subpar U.S. corporate earnings. The Dow industrials dropped 280 points to 17826.

 
TEVA PHARMACEUTICAL CONSIDERING BID FOR MYLAN

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is said to be considering a takeover bid for drug maker Mylan, a sign of the jockeying for dominance among generic drug makers.

 
GE EARNINGS SHOW CHALLENGES OF INDUSTRIAL SHIFT

General Electric's first-quarter earnings report showed that CEO Jeff Immelt's strategy to exit banking and refocus on its industrial operations won't be all smooth sailing.

 
APPLE PAY PLANS TO LAUNCH IN CANADA THIS FALL

Apple is said to be planning to launch its mobile payments service in Canada this fall, marking the start of its international expansion of Apple Pay.

 
U.S. CONSUMER PRICES UP 0.2% IN MARCH

U.S. consumer prices increased for the second consecutive month in March after falling through much of the winter, a sign that U.S. inflation may be stabilizing.

 
FCC FREES UP SPECTRUM FOR LOW-COST WIRELESS HUBS

The Federal Communications Commission approved a plan to unlock a large swath of airwaves that could be used to set up cheap, new wireless networks.

 
BANKS COULD FACE TOUGHER PENALTIES IN CURRENCY PROBE

Banks already in trouble with the Justice Department for previous misconduct could face tougher penalties in a federal probe into currency rigging, a top federal prosecutor suggested.

 
G-20 WARNS OF THREATS TO GLOBAL ECONOMIC RECOVERY

The world's top finance leaders warned that currency volatility, low inflation and high debt levels threaten to undermine an already uneven global economic recovery.

 
FREDERICK'S OF HOLLYWOOD PREPARING BANKRUPTCY FILING

Frederick's of Hollywood is said to be preparing to file for bankruptcy as soon as Sunday, after shutting down all of its stores and signaling plans to become an online-only retailer.

 
FIVE CHARGED WITH CONSPIRING TO VIOLATE IRAN SANCTIONS

Five people were charged with conspiring to violate U.S. sanctions laws by shipping millions of dollars of microelectronics to Iran.

 
PENSION FUNDS TO VOTE AGAINST BARRICK BOARD

Three large pension funds are set to vote against the re-election of Barrick Gold's board, complaining of poor performance and overpay and setting up a potential clash between investors and the world's largest gold company.

 
 
 
 
  ======= DOW JONES NEWSWIRES ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARIES ======= 
 
 
Heard on the Street 
BEWARE BETTING AGAINST SHORT SELLERS

When short sellers are willing to put their necks on the line, investors should think twice before sharpening their axes, writes Justin Lahart.

 
Capital Journal 
CAPITAL JOURNAL FRIDAY PM

Republicans in Houston want to repeal the 14-year-old law that allows immigrants, legal or not, the benefit of in-state college tuition, and for Artemio Muniz, defending the law is both personal and political.