UNITED STATES

The U.S. economy is not robust by any means, but the recent manufacturing-driven recovery, if tepid, is finally beginning to erase memories of the disappointing slowdown in 2011. On the wings of the recent gains, growth in most sectors of the economy is likely to continue - and maybe even pick up momentum towards the end of the year.

Bank of America Corp was the fourth-biggest U.S. mortgage lender in the fourth quarter of 2011, continuing its descent in the rankings after it stopped buying loans made by smaller banks.

A Suffolk University poll released late Wednesday showed Mitt Romney with a major advantage over Newt Gingrich in the general election, undermining the idea coming out of South Carolina that Gingrich is more electable against Barack Obama.

Before the iPhone debuted in 2007, Nokia was virtually alone in the smartphone world, and ever since then, it (and everyone else) has been chasing Apple. Nokia still sells more mobile phones than any other company, but mostly they are of the feature phone variety that don't have touchscreens and data plans. Nokia announced Jan. 26 they had lost over a billion dollars worth of business in the last three months of 2011, but their new line of Windows Phone-powered Lumia smartph...

The GOP presidential primary candidate was hit with a glitter bomb for the second time in two days on Monday, launched by Occupy Tampa demonstrators protesting his opposition to gay rights. Santorum, however, in an interview with Fox News, claimed LGBT activists were the intolerant ones, calling them tools of the radical left.

A New Zealand court granted bail on Thursday to two associates of the founder of online file-sharing website Megaupload, accused of being involved in a scheme that allegedly made more than $175 million from Internet piracy and illegal file sharing.

U.S. stocks sagged on Thursday as traders cashed in on red-hot bank and technology shares, while the Federal Reserve's commitment to easy money to help the U.S. economy rebound weakened the dollar.

Sam LaHood and other American employees of the International Republican Institute and the National Democratic Institute, both non-governmental organizations, were stopped from boarding a flight in Cairo, and now Egyptian authorities are not letting them leave the country.

President Obama and Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer sparked controversy with the picture of a close, seemingly heated conversation between them on the tarmac on Wednesday, right after the president landed outside Phoenix. Shortly after President Obama stepped out of Air Force One and greeted the governor, she handed him a letter, which was followed by the uncomfortable photographed moment when Brewer pointed her finger towards Obama's face.

Caterpillar Inc reported a 58 percent rise in quarterly earnings that blew away Wall Street expectations on record sales of construction and mining equipment, and projected strong growth for 2012.

A month-long rally on Wall Street appears to be sputtering as stocks slipped on Thursday in what investors called a possible warning of weakness ahead.

Americans working for U.S. organizations promoting democracy in Egypt have been barred from leaving the country, leading an angry Washington to accuse Egypt of endangering American lives.

New orders for manufactured goods rose in December and a gauge of future business investment rebounded, showing the economy ended the year with more momentum than previously thought.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc plans to start selling a new single-serve beverage maker, according to an analyst report on Thursday, sending shares of rival coffee system maker Green Mountain Coffee Roasters Inc down more than 4 percent.

Judges said they relied on attorneys, court staff and other jurors to catch improper social media use in the jury box.

Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney are in a dead heat in Florida. Charles Zelden, a historian at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and an expert on elections, outlined who has the edge and what factors will determine the outcome of next Tuesday's primary.

The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday explained why a New York judge did not have the authority to order an injunction last year prohibiting Ecuadorean plaintiffs from collecting on a ruling against Chevron Corp.

The 2012 Super Bowl will present a heated game between the New England Patriots led by Tom Brady and the New York Giants led by Eli Manning. The classic American tradition will also feature hundreds of eye-catching, funny, clever and sexy commercials. Check out the best commercials, teasers and previews released so far from companies like Go Daddy, GM (Chevrolet), Doritos, Kia, Teleflora, and others.

Stocks fell on Thursday, interrupting a recent rally, as investors booked profits after weaker-than-expected housing data.

Stocks fell on Thursday, interrupting a recent rally, as investors booked profits after weaker-than-expected housing data.

Travellers hoping to catch a glimpse of the glittering Shwedagon Pagoda or hear the tinkly temple-bells of Kipling's Road to Mandalay might one day be able to book into a Westin or a Marriott.