U.S. Stocks Retreat After Google, Caterpillar Earnings Miss Estimates

(Bloomberg) -- U.S. stocks stumbled at the end of
a week of second-quarter earnings, pulling down the Standard &
Poor's 500 Index and Dow Jones Industrial Average from records.

Google Inc., owner of the most-popular Internet search
engine, plunged the most since February 2006 after posting
profit below analysts' estimates. Caterpillar Inc. accounted
for almost half of the Dow average's decline after earnings
dropped because of falling demand for truck engines. Citigroup
Inc. pushed financial shares to the steepest drop in the S&P
500 after predicting bad loans will increase.


Read more at Bloomberg Stocks News

Yen Trades Near Record Low Against Euro as Stock Rally Fuels Risk Appetite

(Bloomberg) -- The yen traded near a record low
against the euro as a surge in global stocks encouraged investors
to borrow the currency to buy higher-yielding assets.

The Japanese yen headed for a second weekly drop as the
Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose by the most since May, following a
rally in the Dow Jones Industrial Average yesterday. The currency
also declined against the Australian dollar, a favorite for so-
called carry trades because of its 6.25 percent benchmark rate.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

Ahern's 10-Year Record Is Toasted by Investors as Ireland's Voters Grumble

(Bloomberg) -- Irish voters say Prime Minister
Bertie Ahern, facing a May 24 election, isn't doing enough to
improve hospitals, fix roads and cut class sizes. Investors in
Irish assets are much happier.

The nation's benchmark stock index has risen 180 percent
since Ahern, 55, took charge a decade ago. That compares with a
40 percent increase in the U.K.'s benchmark FTSE 100 Index and a
70 percent advance in the Dow Jones Industrial Average.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News