Retail Sales Rise; Eurozone Output Up; Intel Posts Loss, Lower Sales; KFC/Pizza Hut Parent Sees Profit Rise; Layoffs Ground US Airways; Continental Records $44 Million Charge; Wells Fargo Sells $600 Million in Bad Mortgages?

Only one of the 19 financial institutions that received a bank stress test would require additional capital, the controversial government initiative has reportedly concluded.

Earnings season will plug along this week as reports from several banks provide the latest insight into how well the beleaguered financial-services sector is weathering the global credit-crisis storm.

Brian Hunt brings you the New Highs and Lows of note last week.

Editor’s Note: Here’s a real contrarian play: Eric Roseman, Investment Director of Sovereign Society, says airline stocks are primed to offer major profit returns in the near future.

The airline industry has been battered by the surge in oil prices. Major companies have already cut services, raised fees, and announced job losses. And share prices have collapsed since the start of the year: United Airlines (UAUA) is down a whopping 84.6%, Delta Airlines (DAL) 64.8%, Continental (CAL) 48.7% and Northwest (NWA) 58.9%.

Volatile oil prices… Bush blames Democrats for fuel crisis… More gloom on Wall Street… Stocks take a beating…

Crude futures encountered a volatile week last week as traders analyzed the contrasting news from aboard. On one hand, the news that Saudi Arabia may be increasing oil production and that China is hiking gasoline and diesel fuel prices should dampen demand and move prices lower. On the other hand, Israel threatened Iran’s nuclear facilities and rebels reportedly attacked a Chevron Corp. (CVX) plant in Nigeria late last week (both should contribute to higher oil prices). For now, crude stands around the $135 per barrel level.

Circuit City Falls, Cuts Dividend; Mitsubishi Working on Plug-In Line; Continental and United Buddy Up; Western Oil Back in Iraq; Citi CFO Sees More Trouble; Bear Stearns Execs Arrested; Transocean and BP Extend Drilling Contract; Bank of America to Takeover Countrywide by July.

Continental’s Cost Cuts; Possible Eurozone Telecom Merger; Rising Tide of Foreclosures; Jobless Claims Drop; Inflation Controls Threaten China Stocks; Honeywell Shot Full of Holes; Dupont’s Bumper Crop; Novartis on the Guard Against Influenza.

I hope you enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend – and that your wallet still has a pulse if you did any traveling.

Continental Airlines Inc. (CAL) said it would forgo a merger with UAL Corp.’s (UAUA) United Airlines unit, while all-business-class carrier Eos Airlines Inc. ceased operations after filing for bankruptcy protection.