AP - In a reversal of a long-standing ban on most offshore drilling, President Barack Obama is allowing oil drilling 50 miles off Virginia's shorelines. At the same time, he is rejecting some new drilling sites that had been planned in Alaska. (31-03-2010 11:37 AM)

AP - Oil prices hovered above $82 a barrel Wednesday in Asia after a report gave mixed indications about the strength of U.S. crude demand. (31-03-2010 11:34 AM)

AP - Ford Motor Co. will become a player in the small market for luxury hybrids this fall when it launches its first Lincoln hybrid, a gas-electric version of the 2011 Lincoln MKZ. (31-03-2010 11:14 AM)

Reuters - OPEC officials on Tuesday appeared undecided on how to respond if oil prices rose definitively above the $70-80 a barrel range they have praised this month, highlighting a looming challenge for the cartel. (31-03-2010 09:36 AM)

AP - Most Asian stock markets made modest gains in early trading Wednesday after Wall Street posted its fourth straight gain, pointing toward an upbeat end to the quarter. (31-03-2010 08:49 AM)

Reuters - A lender which claims it is owed millions by the Sex.com domain name operator is asking a U.S. bankruptcy court to dismiss an involuntary bankruptcy case against the company, so it can resume a foreclosure auction, according to new court documents. (31-03-2010 07:13 AM)

AP - The move from cars powered by gas or diesel engines to those that run on electricity will start to hit its stride this year with the introduction of the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt. Three types of vehicles are emerging as automakers look for ways to get better gas mileage or avoid gasoline completely: (31-03-2010 05:59 AM)

AP - THE DEAL: Nissan Motor Co. says it will sell its Leaf electric car for just over $25,000 in the U.S., including a government tax credit. The base sticker price is $32,780. The Leaf can travel 100 miles on a charge from a home outlet. (31-03-2010 05:58 AM)

AP - The Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a standard that investors say would have made it almost impossible to sue over "excessive" fees on mutual funds, a popular investment vehicle for millions of Americans. (31-03-2010 04:50 AM)

AP - Landec Corp., which makes agricultural and food packaging products, said Tuesday that its fiscal third-quarter profit climbed nearly 13 percent as its fresh-cut vegetable subsidiary gained market share. (31-03-2010 04:25 AM)

AP - Bigger grants for college students who need them. Relaxed payment terms for students with loans. More money for community colleges and historically black institutions. (31-03-2010 03:58 AM)

AP - Struggling auto and mortgage lender GMAC spent $265,000 on lobbying in the fourth quarter, much less than before it received a $17.2 billion government bailout. (31-03-2010 03:54 AM)

AP - The North American branch of automaker Toyota Motor Corp. spent $1.4 million lobbying Congress and the federal government during the fourth quarter on issues related to distracted driving, consumer protections and patents, according to a recent filing. (31-03-2010 03:51 AM)

AP - The CEO of student loan provider Sallie Mae received compensation valued at nearly $5.4 million last year, a 35 percent cut from 2008, according to an analysis of a regulatory filing Tuesday. (31-03-2010 02:06 AM)

Reuters - Toyota Motor Corp's (7203.T) U.S. sales rose about 35 percent in March from a year earlier after the automaker offered steep discounts to win back consumers after massive recalls, a U.S. executive said on Tuesday. (31-03-2010 01:54 AM)

AFP - Europe is in danger of being relegated to the second division of world economic powers, while the United States and Asia bounce out of the global downturn, the head of the IMF warned on Tuesday. (31-03-2010 12:52 AM)

AP - A former Food and Drug Administration scientist said Tuesday his job was eliminated after he raised concerns about the risks of radiation exposure from high-grade medical scanning. (30-03-2010 11:59 PM)

AFP - FTSE 100 shares declined at the end of trade on Tuesday as the banking and automobile sector took hits. (30-03-2010 11:10 PM)

AFP - Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday after encouraging US consumer confidence data, as traders tracked news from a major energy summit in Cancun, Mexico, analysts said. (30-03-2010 10:19 PM)

AP - Nissan Motor Co. says its Leaf electric car will cost $32,780 when it goes on sale in the U.S. at the end of the year, an amount that could drive down prices on similar cars made by competitors. (30-03-2010 10:10 PM)