HONG KONG (AFP) - Japan's multi-billion-dollar plans to boost its economy and rein in the yen were shrugged off Tuesday as a fresh set of poor data out of the US weighed on Asian markets.

LONDON (AFP) - World stock markets sank heavily on Tuesday as investors shunned risky assets amid renewed fears over the United States economy, while Tokyo also dived on concern over the soaring yen, dealers said.

TOKYO (AFP) - Tokyo shares plunged 3.55 percent Tuesday, hitting a fresh 16-month low as worries over a persistently strong yen hit exporters, brokers said.

LONDON (AFP) - Europe's main stock markets dived at the start of trading on Tuesday, following heavy overnight losses in New York and then in Asia as investors worried about weak US data and the strength of the yen.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks fell on Monday on scepticism that governments can reverse a slowdown in global growth, while the yen rallied after Japan's action to expand loans to banks disappointed investors who had wanted more aggressive measures to curb the currency's rise.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks fell on Monday on scepticism that governments can reverse a slowdown in global growth, while the yen resumed its rally after Japan's action to expand loans to banks disappointed investors who had wanted more aggressive measures to curb the currency's rise.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks fell on Monday on scepticism that governments can reverse a slowdown in global growth, while the yen resumed its rally after Japan's action to expand loans to banks disappointed investors who had wanted more aggressive measures to curb the currency's rise.

WASHINGTON (AFP) - The board of directors of Hewlett-Packard has authorized spending up to 10 billion dollars to buy back stock in the US computer giant, whose share price has slumped since chief executive Mark Hurd abruptly resigned this month.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - World stocks wavered on Monday on scepticism that governments can cushion a slippage in global growth, while the yen resumed its rally as Japan refrained from aggressive action to curb the currency's rise.

BUDAPEST (Reuters) - It is in Hungary's interest to sign loan agreements with the IMF if necessary but it is not in the country's interest to have economic policy agreements with the Fund, Prime Minister Viktor Orban said on Monday.

LONDON (Reuters) - World stocks put in modest gains and the dollar slipped on Monday, lifted by last week's assurance from the U.S. Federal Reserve that it will do what is needed to spur economic recovery.

PARIS (AFP) - Share prices in Paris and Frankfurt were showing modest gains in early trading Monday but analysts said investors were cautious ahead of key economic data to be released later in the week.

PARIS (AFP) - Share prices in Paris and Frankfurt were showing modest gains in early trading Monday, when the London stock market was closed for a public holiday.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan buckled under government pressure and eased monetary policy at an emergency meeting on Monday in an effort to curb a rise in the yen that is threatening a fragile economic recovery.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan bowed to government pressure and eased monetary policy after an emergency meeting on Monday to try to curb a rise in the yen that is threatening a fragile economic recovery.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan expanded its fund supply tool at an emergency meeting, saving more aggressive steps for when there is clearer evidence of a slowdown in a fragile economy hit by a strong yen.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan expanded its fund supply tool at an emergency meeting on Monday, saving more aggressive steps for when there is clearer evidence of a slowdown in a fragile economy hit by a strong yen.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan began an emergency meeting on Monday to ease monetary policy, bowing to strong government pressure to try to curb a rise in the yen that is threatening a fragile economic recovery.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The Bank of Japan is likely to hold an emergency meeting on Monday to ease monetary policy after Governor Masaaki Shirakawa returned to Tokyo from a trip to the United States earlier than expected.

JACKSON HOLE, Wyoming (Reuters) - Hungary's new government must act to anchor fiscal expectations and will be rewarded by the markets if it gets its house in order, the head of the country's independent budget watchdog said Saturday.