Archive for June 4th, 2008

Get ready for higher airfares and get used to those crowded planes as rising oil prices force airlines to face the grim prospects of finding ways to deal with multi-billion dollar fuel bills.

Stocks held gains Wednesday afternoon as investors welcomed upbeat economic data and falling oil prices while shares of Lehman Brothers headed higher after being upgraded.

The environmental movement has been around for decades but has never been more mainstream than it is today. Now, organic products, energy-efficient appliances and fuel-friendly cars are all the rage. Of course choosing to go green is very good for the planet, but it can also be surprisingly good for your bottom line.

Oil is down. The dollar is up. And the Fed is finally talking tough on inflation. It's what everyone has been waiting for. You'd think Wall Street's mood would be one of jubilation.

Barack Obama's emergence as the presumptive Democratic nominee on Tuesday sets the stage for a sharp partisan debate over the issue weighing most heavily on voters: the economy.

In the latest move from the battered airline industry, United Airlines said Wednesday it will reduce its fleet by 100 planes by 2009 and will cut 1,400 to 1,600 jobs to stave off losses related to fuel costs.

Stocks struggled higher Wednesday morning, as investors considered falling oil prices, better-than-expected readings on productivity, employment and the services sector of the economy and more problems for Lehman Brothers.

American Express CEO Kenneth Chenault said Wednesday he still expected the credit card company to deliver earnings growth of 4% to 6% this year, even amid rising credit losses.

Oil prices eased Wednesday after the government reported that supplies of gasoline increased much more than expected last week.

Oil prices eased Wednesday after the government reported that supplies of gasoline increased much more than expected last week.