IBT Staff Reporter

Saudi Arabia is preparing to extend this year's unexpected jump in oil sales to the United States, adding to speculation about the response of the world's top oil exporter to sanctions against Iran and a rally in prices.

The S&P 500 closed out its best week in three months with a slim gain on Friday as investors continued to propel equities near four-year highs.

A group of 188 lawmakers on Friday urged President Barack Obama to crack down on predatory Chinese pricing practices, which they said are threatening the auto parts industry.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc is reviewing conflict-of-interest policies and procedures for investment bankers in light of a recent controversy over a Goldman-advised deal.

Apple Inc's newest iPad looked like another hot seller on Friday as hundreds lined up at stores around the world to get their hands on the tablet, though the crowds and waiting times in some cities were less than in previous years.

Hedge fund manager Philip Falcone's LightSquared has lost its main business partner, Sprint Nextel Corp , which returned $65 million in payments to the telecommunications startup.

Oracle Corp may soon run out of excuses to feed Wall Street.

A growing dissatisfaction among office workers with the clunky computers their employers force them to use, in contrast to the sleek Apple devices many have at home, could yet benefit incumbent suppliers like Dell, a top Dell executive said.

The S&P 500 rose slightly on Friday and was on track for its best week in three months as investors continued to propel equities near four-year highs.

Glencore is planning a three-way carve-up of Canada's largest grain handler Viterra , an industry source said, to help navigate a politically charged federal review process if it wins a looming bidding war for the company.

Avon Products Inc's next chief executive officer will face a litany of challenges. One of the biggest will be to re-energize the iconic Avon Ladies, the company's diminished and often demoralized army of U.S. sales representatives.

The S&P 500 edged higher on Friday in its best week in three months as two slightly softer economic reports, although capping gains, were unable to shake the optimism over the economy that has helped drive stocks to near four-year highs.

The S&P 500 extended its run in its best week in three months on Friday as a pair of slightly softer economic reports, although capping gains, were unable to shake the optimism over the U.S. economy that has helped drive stocks to near four-year highs.

Oracle Corp may soon run out of excuses to feed Wall Street.

Consumer prices rose the most in 10 months in February as the cost of gasoline spiked, but there was little sign that underlying inflation pressures were building up.

Stocks were flat on Friday as data showed inflation remained in check last month as the domestic economy continues to improve, but consumer sentiment slipped.

Stocks pared early gains to briefly trade negative on Friday after data showed consumer sentiment fell in March.

Greg Smith resignation letter describing toxic atmosphere at investment bank undermines goodwill.

British politicians visiting Wall Street would once have been only too happy to have their photograph taken with the head of Goldman Sachs. This week in New York, Prime Minister David Cameron met Goldman Chief Executive Lloyd Blankfein and other bankers in private.

The euro zone may raise the combined lending power of its bailout funds to close to 700 billion euros from 500 billion in a trade-off between German opposition to committing more money and calming markets, euro zone officials said.

Consumer prices rose by the most in 10 months in February as the cost of gasoline spiked, but there was little sign that underlying inflation pressures were building up.

Stocks were set for a modestly higher open on Friday as data showed inflation remained in check as the domestic economy continues to improve.

Industrial production was unchanged in February as a sharp drop in mining output offset a third straight monthly gain in factory production, the Federal Reserve said on Friday.

Consumer prices rose by the most in 10 months in February as the cost of gasoline spiked, but there was little sign that underlying inflation pressures were building up.

The board of RUSAL Plc <0486.HK>, the world's largest aluminum company, has elected Barry Cheung of the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange as its new chairman after billionaire Viktor Vekselberg quit this week, the company said on Friday.

EBay Inc's unit PayPal is expanding its domestic electronics payments presence in Asia with plans to tap China and India, the region's biggest consumer markets, a senior executive said on Friday.

Stock index futures edged higher on Friday ahead of data on consumer sentiment and after the benchmark S&P 500 index closed above 1,400 for the first time since the 2008 financial crisis.

The Icelandic government said on Thursday it would repay early a fifth of the billions of dollars of loans it received from the International Monetary fund and its Nordic neighbors in the wake of the collapse of its banking sector in 2008.

The board of RUSAL Plc <0486.HK>, the world's largest aluminum company, has elected Barry Cheung of the Hong Kong Mercantile Exchange as its new chairman after billionaire Viktor Vekselberg quit this week, a source close to a shareholder said on Friday.