European stocks fell after disappointing U.S. jobs data stoked concerns that official government figures later in the week will come in weaker than anticipated.

ATLANTA : Gray Television scored some wiggle room in its allowable leverage and avoided default today through an amendment on its senior credit facility. Among other parameters, the amendment resets the leverage ratio at 9x for the quarter ending March 31, Gray said.

LONDON & CHICAGO & HONG KONG----Fitch Ratings estimates that 32 corporate synthetic CDO tranches will default following the recent ISDA ruling which called a credit event on Ambac Assurance Corporation.

Asian shares were mostly lower Wednesday, dragged down by weaker materials shares, with Japan's benchmark stock index edging down after earlier touching an 18-month intraday high on the last day of Japan's fiscal year.

March 31 (Bloomberg) -- The cost of protecting European corporate bonds from default rose, according to traders of credit-default swaps.

Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday, with technology shares supporting the Korean market while energy plays outperformed in Australia.

European stocks traded flat, with sentiment remaining cautious as investors keep an eye out for European fiscal problems and upcoming U.S. data.

U.K. banks are lobbying hard to avert taxes and regulation aimed at their industry, but a close British election is complicating that effort.

Ireland's government announced plans to inject billions of euros into the nation's beleaguered banking system and outlined bigger-than-expected discounts on loans to be transferred by financial institutions to the nation's "bad bank."

March 31 (Bloomberg) -- The cost of protecting Asia-Pacific corporate and sovereign bonds from non-payment increased, according to traders of credit-default swaps.

The Dubai government replaced Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem as chairman of Nakheel, the property developer that the city-state is restructuring along with its one-time parent Dubai World.

Irish banking stocks, already battered, plunged anew as it became clearer government rescue efforts will likely lead to expanded nationalization.