IBT Staff Reporter

Crude prices declined more than $2 a barrel on Thursday as traders sold on profit taking and the dollar rallied against the euro.

U.S. stocks gained on Thursday for the first time in three days after an unexpected drop in jobless claims and oil prices retreated from record breaking heights.

Barnes & Noble lowered its sales outlook for the year but reaffirmed its profit expectations based on lower than expected first quarter sales results and the overall retail environment.

Gold futures ended sharply lower on Thursday, down from a one-month high as the dollar rose against other major currencies and crude oil dropped from a record, eroding the appeal of the precious metal as a hedge against inflation.

Ford Motor Co. on Thursday said it is extremely unlikely meet its previous goal of regaining full year profitability in 2009.

Since Wednesday, May 14, natural gas spot prices decreased at most markets in the Lower 48 States. However, a price rally yesterday (May 21) contributed to price increases at some market locations since last Wednesday,

General Electric Co. chief executive Jeffrey Immelt says the company is considering spinning off its appliances unit instead of selling it.

Power company NRG Energy Inc has made an unsolicited bid to buy competitor Calpine Corp, the U.S. power producer that exited bankruptcy protection on January 31, for about $11 billion in stock, the companies said on Wednesday.

SLM Corp, the biggest U.S. education lender, announced on that it will continue to make loans guaranteed by the government.

Chinese online gaming company NetEase.com, Inc. reported on late Wednesday its first-quarter net earnings declined from the previous year.

Salesforce.com Inc.'s said late Wednesday its first-quarter net income rose sharply and raised full-year forecasts, citing increased revenue.

Merrill Lynch & Co. is in renewed talks to move its headquarters to one of the new buildings which is being built on the World Trade Center site, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Hong Kong stocks rebounded from morning losses, dragged by China Mobile, and closed up more than 1 percent on Wednesday after oil-related shares sparked a big rally on the blue-chip index.

China's stocks jumped Wednesday, led by the country's two oil firms, Sinopec and CNPC, amid speculation that Beijing might be on the verge of raising state-set prices on oil products.

Anti-Smoking pill Chantrix from Pfizer Inc. was banned today by the Federal Aviation Administration for its use by pilots and air traffic controlers, after a study showed dangerous side effects.

Copper prices fell on Wednesday as an increase on inventories rose concerns demand is weakening.

Crude oil hit the record above $131 a barrel on Wednesday as crude inventories in the U.S. fell more than expected on the week ended May 16.

Gold rose to the highest level near $929 an ounce on Wednesday as surging oil prices and a weakening dollar boosted demand for the metal as a hedge against inflation. Silver also gained.

Boeing Co. on Wednesday debuted its new 777 freighter, a twin-engine airplane that can carry 226,000 pounds of cargo.

Tokyo stocks tumbled Wednesday morning, with the benchmark Nikkei index dropping below the 14,000 line for the first time in five trading days, as broad-based selling set in after sharp falls in U.S. shares overnight.

Despite cool weather along the East Coast over the past several weeks, Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial start to the summer driving season is upon us. Some may interpret recent increases in gasoline prices as yet another manifestation of a

U.S. stocks fell for a second day, as oil prices surged past $132 a barrel after data showed a drop in crude supplies which boosted concerns that inflation will affect the rate at which U.S. consumes, while financial companies fell on concern computer errors at Moody's Investors Service may result in bond downgrades.

Women's apparel retailer Talbots Inc posted higher-than-expected quarterly operating profit on Wednesday and reiterated its full-year earnings forecast, causing the shares to rise.

Time Warner Inc.'s and Time Warner Cable Inc.'s boards of directors approved on Wednesday an agreement that will split the companies legally and structurally.

American Airlines said on Wednesday that it is taking steps to reduce costs, effectively downsizing the company as fuel prices rise to record levels.

The FTSE 100 share index fell 184.9 points to 6,191.6 on Tuesday (down 2.9 per cent).

JJB Sports said on Tuesday that its group revenue fell by 8.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2008, compared with the same period in the previous year.

Yell Group said on Tuesday that it's after tax profit for the full year to 31 March had risen 6.4 per cent to £294.2 million. Revenue for the company was also up 6.9 per cent to £2,218.7 million.

Diary Crest reported on Tuesday an increase in profits of 24 per cent, to £96.1 million, for the full year to 31 March 2008. Revenue for the company was up 20 per cent to £1,569.7 million.