msnbc.com: Business

• Pending home sales plunge to record low
  Pending sales of existing U.S. homes dropped to a seven-year low in November, data showed on Tuesday.
• Factory orders plunge in November
  Orders to factories fell for a record fourth straight month in November, reflecting the intensifying effects of the country's steep recession.
• Services sector contraction slows in Dec.
  An index of activity in the U.S. services sector contracted at a slower pace in December as new orders and employment improved.
• Billionaire kills himself over financial crisis
  The family of Adolf Merckle says the German billionaire committed suicide after his business empire got into trouble because of the global financial crisis.
• Enron’s Skilling loses appeal of conviction
  An appeals court has upheld former Enron Corp. CEO Jeff Skilling’s convictions for his role in the energy giant’s collapse but orders that he be resentenced.