CRUDE OIL

Oil prices fell on Friday, pressured by economic uncertainty ahead of a possible debt deal in Greece, concerns about China's sluggish manufacturing sector, and weak U.S. petroleum demand.

The reason for the decline? Warmer-than-normal winter temperatures has dampened demand, and rising natural-gas inventories have taken their toll on the commodity's value, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Such a spillage would pollute one of the most beautiful and unspoiled maritime areas in the Mediterranean.

Schlumberger Ltd (SLB.N), the world's largest oilfield services company, reported a 36 percent rise in quarterly earnings, beating Wall Street forecasts, but it warned that Europe's debt crisis could hurt economic growth and trim oil demand.

Gold prices edged lower Friday as an increasingly stronger dollar made the metal more expensive for non-U.S. buyers and some investors decided to book profits on what is shaping up to be a robust start to the year.

General Electric, the U.S.'s largest industrial manufacturer, is expected to report a 22.3 percent fourth-quarter profit increase when it announces its earnings Friday, driven by strong equipment order and pricing trends and growth in the aviation and energy infrastructure sectors. It marks the seventh straight quarter of operating earnings growth.

Here are the five things you need to know about the pipeline, and why it faces such vehement opposition.

The possibility of a war against Iran is no longer in the realm of fantasy.

The Obama administration on Wednesday rejected the Keystone crude oil pipeline project, a decision welcomed by environmental groups but blasted by the domestic energy industry.

Lavrov also criticized moves by the West to tighten the economic screws on Iran.

Observers of India's economy may wonder why inflation has persistently remained high over recent years - much higher than that in many other Asian economies.

Consumer prices in the Eurozone fell more than previously expected in December, the start of a retreat from a November peak that should give the European Central Bank more room to cut interest rates as the economy heads for recession.

Gold prices jumped Tuesday after China reported fourth-quarter gross domestic product grew more than expected.

Asian shares and the euro rose on Tuesday as slightly better-than-expected Chinese economic growth data soothed investor worries that the euro zone debt crisis is dragging down the global economy.

The IBT 1000 List of the fastest-growing public companies in the world -- which debuts today for what its editors hope will be yearly issuance -- is a reflection of the engines driving the world's economic growth.

European shares and the euro gradually recovered on Monday from early losses triggered by the mass downgrade of euro zone sovereign ratings last week, but they still looked vulnerable amid rising fears of a disorderly Greek debt default.

ConocoPhillips is said to be in talks with the sub-continent oil company, and could sell some of its land leases in South Texas.

He also admitted that the strike had led to the breakdown of law and order in parts of Nigeria.

Gold firmed in Europe on Monday, rising back above $1,640 an ounce, as a recovery in stock markets and the euro took some downward pressure off prices, with traders digesting last week's mass downgrade of euro zone countries from Standard & Poor's.

Iran warned its Arab neighbors on Sunday not to raise crude output to replace Iranian oil in the event of an embargo by the European Union, Tehran's governor for the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries was quoted as saying.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao pressed Saudi Arabia to open its huge oil and gas resources to expanded Chinese investment, media reports said on Sunday against a backdrop of growing tension centered on Iran and worries over its crude exports to the Asian power.