IBT Staff Reporter

Oil fell for a second day on Thursday, approaching $82, as dollar strength kept a lid on prices, neutralizing the effect of upbeat U.S. employment data and a drop in the nation's crude inventories last week. At the same time, U.S. stockpiles of gasoline and distillate fuels, including diesel, extended a string of gains, contributing to a mixed perception about the outlook for oil demand from the world's top consuming nation for the rest of the year.

Cathay Pacific Airways has exciting new offers allowing you to see the world on a light budget.

The Bush administration's misguided policies are to blame for huge U.S. budget deficits, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner charged on Wednesday as he sought to build an election-year case for ending tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans.

About 200,000 smartphones based on Google's Android operating system are sold every day, CEO Eric Schmidt said on Wednesday, underscoring the strong challenge to rivals like Apple's iPhone.

Verizon Communications Inc and Google Inc agreed to a deal over how Internet traffic will be treated, two people familiar with the agreement said on Wednesday.

Delta Air Lines Inc's $1.2 billion renovation of its terminals at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport is expected to be approved on Thursday, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday.

Research in Motion is at odds with the governments of India, Saudi Arabia and the UAE over their demands that the company let authorities tap BlackBerry messages delivered using RIM's rock-solid encryption technology.

BP Plc said on Wednesday it was close to subduing its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well, and the White House hailed the beginning of the end of efforts to contain the worst spill in U.S. history.

Media conglomerates News Corp and Time Warner Inc posted improved quarterly results on Wednesday, riding a recovery in advertising sales and several quarters of cost cuts.

The AUD has pushed higher again overnight as investor risk appetite continues to grow.

The Australian goods and services balance printed a trade surplus of 3.54 billion in June annihilating expectations of 1.81 billion.

People who eat more full-fat dairy are less likely to die from a heart attack or any cardiovascular disease, according to a new study on the subject by the Queensland Institute of Medical Research (QIMR).

Goldman Sachs Group Inc plans to spin off its proprietary trading business as early as this month to comply with the so-called Volcker rule, CNBC reported on Wednesday.

Russia's top oil boss gave a cool nod of approval to BP Plc's new Chief Executive Bob Dudley on Wednesday, while praising his predecessor Tony Hayward, ousted over his handling of the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

New York's attorney general said on Wednesday he has opened a probe into possible predatory lending and kickbacks in the healthcare industry.

The Motor Accident Commission (MAC) has declared support for a proposed law requiring drivers to turn on headlights during heavy rains at daytime as studies showed it lowers the number of injury and death on the road.

Dozens of U.S. billionaires pledged on Wednesday to give at least half their fortunes to charity as part of a philanthropic campaign by two of the world's richest men -- Warren Buffett and Bill Gates.

Queensland's 74 senior doctors or visiting medical officers (VMOs) threatened to resign en masse on Wednesday unless the state's health department addresses their pay concerns.

Intel Corp has agreed to stop using threats and unfair discounts to block its rivals, resolving a costly, high-profile legal battle over accusations it illegally smothered competition for over a decade.

BP Plc said on Wednesday it was close to subduing its ruptured Gulf of Mexico oil well, and the White House hailed the beginning of the end of efforts to contain the worst spill in U.S. history.

One small change in the law could make Warren Buffett's billion dollar bet on global equity markets look less like a winner.

The August 3, 2010, armed clash along the Israeli-Lebanese border was a significant strategic incident. On Thursday, July 29, 2010, Israel notified UNIFIL that a few Israeli soldiers would be crossing the security fence in order to cut a tree and remove a few shrubs in Israeli territory but near the Blue Line (the actual border between Israel and Lebanon). This foliage blocks the view of Israeli security cameras positioned deep inside Israel. Israel also notified UNIFIL that these soldiers would...

U.S. stocks rose in thin trade on Wednesday as retailers' earnings and a report showing a slight improvement in private employment boosted optimism ahead of Friday's payrolls report.

Research In Motion stock tumbled more than 4 percent on Wednesday as mounting concerns that Saudi Arabia will block its service clouded any positive sentiment generated by Tuesday's launch of a new BlackBerry.

Couples' chances of becoming pregnant with various forms of fertility treatment may start to fall after two or three tries with the same tactic, a new study suggests.

The White House on Wednesday hailed the beginning of the end of efforts to plug and contain the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico but said there was still a lot of cleanup work to be done.

Smartphones running Google's Android software were the top seller among consumers in the United States in the second quarter, industry tracker NPD said on Wednesday.

Companies hired more workers in July but the gains are too slow to reduce unemployment and spur the economy significantly, reports showed on Wednesday.

Shares of Anadarko Petroleum Corp and Transocean Ltd , companies that may face liability related to BP Plc's Gulf of Mexico oil spill, rallied on Wednesday after an effort to kill the ruptured well showed promise.