[R]10:00AM New York - AnnTaylor Stores Corporation sales fell 19.5% and net loss was $375.6 million. H&R Block, Inc revenue rose 11% and net income was $47.4 million.[/R]

AnnTaylor Stores Corporation, a specialty retailer of women''s apparel, shoes and accessories reported fourth quarter sales fell 19.5% to $483.4 million from $600.8 million a year ago. Net loss in the quarter was $375.6 million or $6.66 per diluted share compared to net loss of $6.7 million or 11 cents per share a year ago.

Comparable same store sales declined 24.5%.

Net sales for the fiscal year 2008 fell 8% to $2.2 billion from $2.4 billion a year ago. Net loss for the fiscal year 2008 was $333.9 million $5.82 per diluted share compared to net income of $97.2 million or $1.53 per share a year ago.

AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (ANN: chart) in the last one year traded as high as $29.23 in May 2008 and as low as $3.74 in December 2008. Based on the yesterday''s closing price of $5.54 the company has market cap of $316.53 million.

H&R Block, Inc, the largest U.S. tax preparer reported third quarter revenues rose 11% to $993.5 million from $894.8 million a year ago. Net income in the quarter was $47.4 million or 14 cents per diluted share compared to net loss of $47.4 million or 14 cents per share a year ago.

H&R Block, Inc (HRB: chart) in the last one year traded as high as $27.97 in September 2008 and as low as $15.00 in October 2008. Based on the yesterday''s closing price of $17.32 the company has market cap of $5.87 billion.