UNITED STATES

Exxon Mobil Corp. said its fourth-quarter net income fell 33 percent to $7.82 billion, on lower oil prices in the last months of 2008, but managed to break its own profit record for a U.S. company.

Looking ahead, the chairman of Swiss pharmaceuticals company Roche Holding said Friday it expects to have financing ready when its needed in the company's hostile takeover bid for U.S.-based Genentech.

Overall, the dollar continues to strengthen overnight. The only exception among the majors is the pound, which rose after some very good economic reports coming from the U.K. Ahead, the market is likely to become very volatile, especially during the U.S. open, when some important releases are scheduled.

On Thursday Somali pirates hijacked a tanker and its crew of 12 Filipinos and one Indonesian in the Gulf of Aden, a diplomat said.

Chef Sam Kass, 28, joins the White House, as part of President Obama's kitchen cabinet, a spokeswoman for first lady Michelle Obama, Katie McCormick Lelyveld said Wednesday.

Honda Motor Corp. Executive Vice President Koichi Kondo doesn't expect any further major changes to its profit outlook this year, following a profit forecast cut on Friday.

Ford reported heavy losses of $5.88 billion in its latest quarter. Analysts said the losses were due to a strong decline in demand for vehicles but Ford said it won't need a bailout from the Federal government.

Early voting for provincial elections in Iraq began on Wednesday. Smooth elections may encourage supporters of early withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq while elections marred by irregularities and violence could raise worries about Iraq’s preparedness.

Starbucks Corp, the world's largest chain of coffee shops ,said Wednesday it will close 300 stores and reduce as many as 6,700 jobs.

The pound rose for a third day against the dollar and climbed versus the euro as Citigroup Inc. recommended buying Lloyds Banking Group Plc shares

In the final three months of 2008, click fraud surged to a new high as criminals had thousands of hacked computers pretend to be customers checking out online ads, according to a report released Wednesday.

The U.S. House of Representatives passed an $825 billion economic stimulus bill on Wednesday. The spending and tax cuts package is meant to give a boost to the ailing economy. The votes were 244-188. All voting Republicans and 11 Democrats voted against it.

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On Wednesday Iran's president called for profound changes in U.S. foreign policy. Among others he mentioned an end to support for Israel and an apology to the Islamic republic for past misdeeds.

Ever since Jessica Simpson appeared at the Radio 99.9 Kiss Country's Annual Chili Cookoff this past Sunday, the entertainment industry has been commenting on her curvier form. Her younger sister, Ashlee Simpson-Wentz is now joining the discussion by showing her support for Jessica.

A Russian cybermilitia has knocked the central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan off the Internet, a security researcher said today, in the latest manifestation of digital warfare.

Shares of major banks in the U.S. rose early Wednesday pulling up the financial sector on optimism that President Barack Obama's administration may go ahead with a plan to buy bad assets in the financial system creating the so-called bad bank.

Boeing Company reported Wednesday its net income in the fourth quarter of 2008 plunged to a loss of $56 million, on a strike, a charge related to the 747 and a litigation reserve.

A Chinese diplomat says the U.S. knows China is not a currency manipulator, saying it's unfair for the nation to suddenly change its stance, according to a report.

Oil prices rose on Wednesday above $42 after the U.S. stock market rose a day earlier on expectations that upcoming government and money policy could reduce instability in the financial system, raising spending and boosting credit availability.

Selected members of the Federal Reserve end a key two-day meeting Wednesday and will issue a policy statement this afternoon where may announce additional steps to combat the economic crisis beyond cutting already low interest rates.