Soft European markets were a consistent and negative theme of the first-quarter results from big U.S. industrial companies, and concerns about further deterioration are expected to be a key topic at the annual conference that starts Monday.

This week, when Home Depot and Lowe's report fiscal first-quarter results, the reconstruction phase from last year's superstorm Sandy will be looming large as cooler-than-normal temperatures delay spring selling.

An independent Scotland would have banking assets worth more than 1,250% of Scottish gross domestic product, putting taxpayers at significant risk in the event of another banking crisis, the U.K. Treasury said Sunday.

Maersk said stringent cost cuts and higher freight rates helped its container business, but a recent slump in demand is expected to permeate results for the rest of the year.

Stephen King has no plans for a digital edition of his new book, "Joyland," hoping to get more people to shop for it in a physical bookstore.

"Star Trek: Into Darkness" grossed $70.6 million this weekend in the U.S. and Canada, falling short of Paramount Pictures' hopes. But the movie sold better overseas than the 2009 "Star Trek."

Starbucks has penetrated scores of markets over the years, but may face a challenge in Vietnam's deep-rooted coffee culture.

Yahoo's board has approved a deal to acquire blogging startup Tumblr for $1.1 billion in cash.

The stock market is expecting a massive new economic boom while the bond market sees the economy remaining in a funk. They can't both be right, but they can be wrong, writes Brett Arends.

Social Security tax maximums and cost-of-living adjustments are calculated differently based on formulas set by law.