World stock markets mixed as US stress tests eyed

HONG KONG -- Most Asian markets dropped Friday as investors braced for news about the "stress tests" on major U.S. banks, while weak company results undercut hopes for an economic recovery. European markets opened higher. Volumes were thin, suggesting investors are hesitant to place large bets one way or the other without clearer signs about the prospects for the economy and earnings. Crude oil prices were steady, while the dollar slid almost 1 percent against the yen and the euro. As in the...