NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — U.S. stocks fell steeply on Monday, with a triple-digit point drop in the Dow Jones Industrial Average adding to August’s losses so far, as the latest economic data on personal income and spending fueled ongoing concerns about the economy. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 140.92 points, or 1.4%, to 10,009.73, as 29 of its 30 components ended lower. Hewlett-Packard Co. was the sole blue-chip gainer, gaining 1.5% after it announced a share-repurchase plan amid its pursuit of a deal to acquire 3Par Inc. . The Dow is currently off 4.4% for August with one trading session left in the month. The S&P 500 index fell 1.5% to end at 1,048.92, weighed by a 2.2% drop in its financials sector. The broad-market average is down 4.8% for August so far. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.6% to 2,119.97. The technology-heavy index has dropped 6% in the month so far.

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) — Winn-Dixie Stores late Monday reported its fourth-quarter net income rose to $14 million, or 25 cents a share, from $9.4 million, or 17 cents a share, in the same quarter last year. Revenue edged up 1.8% to $1.75 billion while same-store sales fell 5.2% in the quarter which the retailer blamed on “increased competitive activity.” Analysts surveyed by FactSet had forecast earnings of 15 cents a share on revenue of $1.79 billion. For fiscal 2011, the company expects adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $100 million to $130 million.

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SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) – Hewlett-Packard Co. has agreed to pay the U.S. government $55 million as part of a settlement of claims that the technology giant defrauded the General Services Administration, the Justice Department said Monday. The DOJ had alleged that the Palo Alto, Calif.-based H-P “knowingly paid kickbacks, or ‘influencer fees,’ to systems integrator companies in return for recommendations that federal agencies purchase HP’s products.”

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HONG KONG (MarketWatch) — Hong Kong shares fell modestly early Wednesday as gains in local property developers after recent losses were overpowered by drops in shares of Aluminum Corp. of China Ltd. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. After losing ground in the previous three sessions, the Hang Seng Index slid 0.2% to 20,616.36, and the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index gave up 0.3% to 11,543.20. Shares of Sino Land Co. and Hang Lung Properties Ltd. each rose 1.2% on hopes low interest rates would continue to keep the sector supported. But Aluminum Corp., or Chalco , lost 2.6% on a weak earnings outlook, with a 1.5% drop in Internet major Tencent also keeping the market pressured. The Shanghai Composite gave up 0.5% to 2,638.40.

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LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) — Former health-care executive Rick Scott secured the Republican nomination for governor in Florida Tuesday, beating the state’s attorney general, Rick McCollum, CNN and the Associated Press reported. The two news agencies said that with 93% of precincts reporting, Scott was ahead of McCollumn 47% to 43%. The wealthy Scott, a former executive for hospital giant HCA Inc., spent a reported $50 million to win the nod. He goes up against Democrat Alex Sink, the state’s chief financial officer, in the Nov. 2 general election.

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LOS ANGELES (MarketWatch) — Veteran lawmaker and former presidential candidate John McCain took the first step Tuesday toward securing a fifth term representing Arizona in the U.S. Senate as he secured the Republican nomination over Tea Party favorite J.D. Hayworth. Shortly after the first results were released in Arizona, McCain was leading Hayworth 59% to 30% and was declared the victor for the nomination by CNN.

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