Carlyle first quarter earnings fall almost 80 percent but still beat forecast

Private equity firm Carlyle Group LP bucked its sector's trend on Wednesday by posting first-quarter earnings that beat market forecasts, even as it reported a drop in the assets managed by the firm that also set it apart from its peers. The surprisingly buoyant earnings numbers contrasted with disappointing quarterly performances from some of Carlyle's rivals, as stormy financial markets eroded returns. Known for multibillion dollar corporate takeovers that were in vogue before the 2008 global