Newswatch: A Conflicted Stock Market Faces Moment Of Truth As Earnings Loom

Home Depot cofounders Bernie Marcus, left, and Arthur Blank, right. AP/John BazemoreBernie Marcus and Arthur Blank founded Home Depot in 1978 after they were fired from retailer Handy Dan. FBI records show the pair were investigated over claims they tried to bribe Handy Dan workers to decertify their union. The investigation ended in 1983 when a prosecutor determined the case was too old and the evidence was "insufficient."The Home Depot cofounders Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank were investigated by the FBI in the 1970s and '80s over claims they used a $140,000 "slush fund" to try to bribe employees at a California home-improvement retailer to decertify their union, newly public records show.

The US military says its total compensation is "strongly competitive" compared to the private sector. Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesA new Pentagon report said its troops earn more than most of their full-time civilian counterparts. It said that after one year of service, the top 70th percentile of enlisted earners get about $1,000 a week.

Alexander Bogatyrev/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty ImagesSephora is embarking on the largest capital project in its history — a complete redesign of its stores. Sephora CEO Artemis Patrick said the redesign would change how its North American shops look. She said the refresh aimed to provide a consistent consumer experience across all stores.

Cameron Diaz is set to return to acting after a decadelong hiatus. Gerald Matzka/Getty Images for NetflixCameron Diaz says she spent her 10-year break from acting "trying to stay alive just like every other mother."But she's set to make a return to Hollywood in the Netflix movie "Back in Action."Diaz joins a long list of celebrities — like Tom Brady — who have unretired.

Ueslei Marcelino/BrazilChina is loading up on soybeans amid US trade war fears. China's soybean imports rose 6.5% in 2024, hedging against potential Trump trade policies. Intensifying US-China trade tensions could hit the soybean trade, impacting US farmers and rural economies. China is stockpiling more than semiconductor chips amid its trade war with the US.

LinkedIn is Microsoft's popular social-networking site for professional and career development. Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesLinkedIn is a social network for professional networking and career development. Microsoft acquired LinkedIn nearly a decade ago for a whopping $26.2 billion in cash. LinkedIn is free, but a subscription version called LinkedIn Premium offers additional features.