European Markets Flat, Asia Gains

Japanese electronic retailers climbed after The Nikkei financial daily said home appliance sales surged over the weekend. As part of its economic stimulus efforts, the government kicked off its "eco points" program to boost spending on environmentally friendly electronics. Bic Camera Inc. shot up 7.5% and rival Best Denki Co. surged almost 17%.

Markets in mainland China and Singapore -- both down earlier -- also rose into positive territory.

Thailand's benchmark index fell after figures showed that Southeast Asia's second-biggest economy contracted 7.1% in the first quarter from a year earlier.

Wall Street slid Friday as early gains built on better earnings reports from retailers faded amid anxiety about the outlook for the American economy, the world's largest. The Dow fell 14.81, or 0.2%, to 8,277.32. The S&P 500 index slipped 1.33, or 0.2%, to 887.00, and the Nasdaq composite index lost 0.2% to 1,692.01.

Oil prices slipped, with benchmark crude for July delivery down 43 cents to $61.24 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

The dollar traded flat at 94.79 yen, barely up from 94.76 late Friday. The euro was unchanged at $1.3994 after briefly rising above $1.40.

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AP Business Writer Kelly Olsen in Seoul and Associated Press Writer Tomoka A. Hosaka in Tokyo contributed to this report.

1 What would best describe your stance heading into the coming week of trading? Bullish Bearish Neutral 2 Which of these sectors do you think is set to move up in the coming week? --Choose One--Aerospace and DefenseAirlinesAutomobilesBeverages and Food ProductsBiotechnologyCommercial BanksComputers and PeripheralsConsumer NondurablesEnergy Equipment & ServicesHMOs and HospitalsHomebuildingInsuranceIntegrated OilInternet, Software ServicesInvestment Bankers and BrokersMediaMultiline RetailPharmaceuticalsPrecious MetalsSemis, Semi EquipmentTelecom EquipmentTobacco and AlcoholWireless CommunicationsUtilities 3 Which of these sectors do you think is set to move down in the coming week? --Choose One--Aerospace and DefenseAirlinesAutomobilesBeverages and Food ProductsBiotechnologyCommercial BanksComputers and PeripheralsConsumer NondurablesEnergy Equipment & ServicesHMOs and HospitalsHomebuildingInsuranceIntegrated OilInternet, Software ServicesInvestment Bankers and BrokersMediaMultiline RetailPharmaceuticalsPrecious MetalsSemis, Semi EquipmentTelecom EquipmentTobacco and AlcoholWireless CommunicationsUtilities View the results without voting