In the US, General Motors has plunged 74 percent in the past nine months, giving the Dow Jones Industrial Index its biggest stock decline.

Citigroup, American International and Bank of America have each tumbled more than 50 percent.

Earnings at financial firms and consumer companies reliant on discretionary income have slumped 56.5 percent and 19.9 percent, respectively.

The Dow stock index, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, is... // Albuquerque Express

By Rory Spears PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

CHICAGO (Ticker) -- Chicago Blackhawks general manager Dale Tallon said for weeks that he hoped to be busy on July 1 - and he was.

On the first day of NHL free agency, Tallon swooped in and signed two of the biggest names in this off season's free agent class.

Brian Campbell, the most sought-after defenseman on the free-agent market, and goaltender Cristobal Huet received hefty chunks of change.

On Tuesday, Campbell signed an eight-year contract and Huet inked a four-year pact with the Blackhawks.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but TSN of Canada reported Campbell's deal was worth $56.8 million, while Huet's contract was worth $5.635 million per year.

"We had to make statement with the buzz we have created in Chicago,"... // SBR Forum

* U.S. stocks reverse plunge on GM sales, bargain hunting

* Oil shy of new record as Mideast, supply concerns weigh

* Dollar pares losses on GM sales, manufacturing data

Debt prices slip amid hints of economic silver linings

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Surprisingly strong sales at struggling General Motors (nyse: GM - news - people ) Tuesday helped Wall Street shrug off worries about higher oil prices and the credit-crunched banking sector that have pushed it to the brink of a bear market.

The stronger-than-expected sales at GM forced government debt prices that had gained on a flight to safety bid to turn lower. The dollar fell against the euro in a volatile session as investors debated the outlook for the U.S. economy.

Crude oil rose to a new settlement high. Forecasts that... // Forbes