THE NEWS: Avon Products said Wednesday its second-quarter net income fell 70 percent, hurt by the stronger dollar and lower demand for its makeup and skin care products

THE CONTEXT: Results are another quarter of lackluster growth for the direct-selling company, which has struggled for three years to turn around results. Revenue fell in all regions, including Latin America, its largest region.

BRIBERY PROBE: The company said it is in talks to settle investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice into bribery allegations, which started in 2008 in China and has spread to other countries.