IBM's revenue slipped below Wall Street's expectations in the third quarter as the technology company dealt with jittery customers and a weakening euro that undercut its results. Despite the problems posed by the wobbly economy, IBM's earnings held steady.

Cort Martin followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and made his career at IBM. That is what nearly everyone did in this town, the birthplace of the century-old technology titan.
IBM sustained its nearly decade-long streak of earnings growth as it shook off the economic jitters that have undercut several other technology companies.
IBM sustained its nearly decade-long streak of earnings growth as it shook off the economic jitters that have undercut several other technology companies.

Uncertainty about the stability of world markets is clouding encouraging signs about the health of the technology sector.
Analysts were concerned with one aspect of IBM Corp.'s second-quarter financial report: The value of services contracts signed fell 12 percent to $12.3 billion.