IBT Staff Reporter

The dollar fell to a fresh low versus the euro on Thursday after the European Central Bank and Bank of England decided to key their benchmark interest steady.

Gold futures made a steep tumble on Thursday after hitting a record high over $995 an ounce in the previous session, as traders cashed in gains.

U.S. stocks dropped to a six-week low Thursday on renewed concern about the credit markets after U.S. home foreclosures rose to a record, increasing market worries about the sagging economy.

Microsoft released a test version of its latest web browser, Internet Explorer 8, on Wednesday.

Gold futures closed with strong gains, after briefly soaring to a new record just below $1,000 an ounce after the dollar tumbled lower and crude oil continued to rally, boosting the metal's appeal as hedge against inflation.

Dirty Dancing star Patrick Swayze has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatment, but contrary to published reports, his publicist and doctor said Wednesday he is not expected to die from the disease within weeks.

Bill Gates lost the top position as the richest man to Warren Buffet an American investor who runs Berkshire Hathaway stock.

Apple is planning to hold a press event at its headquarters on Thursday and comments made as recently as Wednesday suggest the company will make its iPhone more popular with enterprise users.

Finland's GeoSentric unveiled on Wednesday its mobile social-networking service GypSii for Apple's iPhone.

Cocoa, sugar and coffee gained in London after the dollar dropped against the euro, increasing demand from investors for commodities as an alternative investment.

Corn increased on Wednesday amid speculations that investors will boost holdings of commodities to overcome inflation following the gain of crude oil and other commodities.

U.S. copper rallied more than 4 percent today as the dollar extended its decline against the euro on worries about the health of the economy in the United States.

The FTSE 100 share index rose on Wednesday by 85.8 points to 5,853.5 after dropping for five consecutive days.

Hollywood saw record sales in the U.S. and abroad in 2007, while noting that the Internet is just short of becoming as influential as television and radio as a marketing medium.

U.S. crude prices rose to a record above $104 today after OPEC held oil production steady at a meeting in Vienna and U.S. fuel inventories declined for the first time in eight weeks.

Tokyo stocks slightly dropped back Wednesday as investors wait for new U.S. economic data.

Shares of struggling bond insurer Ambac Financial Group, Inc fell after it announced a plan to raise $1.5 billion in capital to protect its valuable top-level credit rating following heavy losses linked to the subprime mortgage loans.

At Microsoft's MIX08 online technology conference, Dean Hachamovitch, general manager of Microsoft's Internet Explorer team, provided a first glimpse at the successor to IE 7, which was released in October 2006.

Yahoo Inc extended a deadline to nominate board directors, buying the company time to pursue alternatives to Microsoft Corp's $41.7 billion offer, while also giving Yahoo room to negotiate a friendly deal with Microsoft.

Ten-year treasuries fell for the third day in a row on Wednesday after a report about U.S. services industries noted that they contracted less than expected, indicating a stronger than expected economy.

The dollar fell to a record low against the euro and the dollar index on Wednesday despite a report which showed U.S. service industries contracting less than expected.

Social networking site Facebook denies rumors that it has approached major music labels about launching a music service in a bid to compete with Apple's iTunes, according to news reports.

Gold futures rose sharply Wednesday, gaining from its steep decline in the previous session, as the dollar traded near an all-time low against its major counterparts and crude oil prices continued to fuel inflation jitters.

U.S. stocks opened higher on Wednesday, led by energy and financial companies due to higher crude oil prices and increased optimism about technology spending after reassuring comments from Cisco Systems Inc. Fannie Mae, the largest U.S. source of mortgage financing, climbed after Morgan Stanley said earnings may improve next year, pushing financial shares up.

Warner Music has signed a deal with media site 7digital.com to offer its music without copy protection.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday that the new round of sanctions imposed on Iran by the U.N. Security Council will not affect China's trade with that country.

China's coal-to-oil experiments are developing smoothly, according to officials.

The Chinese government said on Tuesday that China will not abolish the a series of economic laws and regulations that launched recently, even though these policies mean that foreign investors doing business in China become even more difficult.

The Men in Blue scripted a fairy tale ending to the Commonwealth Bank tri-series tournament in Australia, by notching a historic win in the second final, Tuesday, in Brisbane - beating the world champion host team by 9 runs.