• Employment on the Rise - In a sign that the U.S. economy is becoming increasingly resilient, employment rose at a faster rate than was predicted in April.

• Tax-Free Internet Shopping May End - The Senate is voting on a bill to give states the power to collect sales taxes on online purchases.

• Bain and Golden Gate to Purchase BMC - A consortium of private equity firms, led by Bain Capital and Golden Gate Capital, have agreed to buy BMC Software Inc. for $6.9 billion.

• Yahoo Buying Tumblr for $1.1 Billion - In what may be an effort to appeal to a younger, hipper audience, Yahoo’s board of directors has approved a deal to buy Tumblr for $1.1 billion in cash.

• Gold and Silver Continue to Slide - Gold for June delivery dropped 1.6 percent, or $21 to $8.40, to just over $1,356 an ounce, marking the eighth consecutive session of losses—the most since 2009.

• U.S. Stocks Remain Unchanged - After the S&P 500 rose for four consecutive weeks to a record-breaking high, U.S. stocks have remained relatively steady, with acquisitions on the minds of many investors.

• Markets Approve of Italy’s Progress - Financial markets are reacting positively as Italy begins to make progress forming a new government after being at a standstill for months.

• Twitter Hoax Rattles Markets - Last week, hackers broke into the Twitter feed of The Associated Press, claiming that an explosion at the White House had injured President Obama.

• U.S. Consumer Spending Rises - Consumer spending in the United States jumped more than had been forecast in March.

• Retail Sales Rose in April - Retail sales, which make-up approximately 30 percent of consumer spending, unexpectedly rose 0.1 percent in April.

• Stocks Slip on Rumors of Fed Exit Plan - U.S. stocks slipped on Monday as the markets reacted to signs that the Federal Reserve may be considering scaling back its $85-billion-a-month bond-buying program.

• The Euro’s Long Recession - Data scheduled to be released on May 15th is expected to confirm that the euro is in the longest recession since the single currency was created in 1999.

• U.S. Stocks Edge Up - Stocks advanced on Monday, regaining some of the losses incurred last week when it lost more than 2%.

• Google Shares Lose 3.1% - Google shares fell as much as 3.1% and then reversed course, gaining back most of that loss within the span of one second.

• U.K. to Experience a Third Recession? - After experiencing the coldest weather in March in the last 50 years, the struggling economy of the United Kingdom may be on the cusp of an unprecedented third recession.

• Growth in China Slows - China’s economic growth unexpectedly slowed from 7.9 percent to 7.7 percent in the first quarter, raising concerns over the world’s second-largest economy.

• Gold Prices Drop Sharply - Gold fell to its lowest level in two years on news of China’s economic slowdown.

• Citigroup Profit Rises - Citigroup reported a 31 percent gain in profits, rising to $3.8 billion ($1.23 per share) from $2.9 billion ($0.95 per share) a year ago.