CRUDE OIL

France and the U.K are in talks with the U.S. to release oil from the nations' strategic oil reserves in response to rising gas prices, reports said Wednesday.

Window dressing, the practice of stock fund managers buying up top performers as the quarter ends to boost the appearance of success, failed Tuesday to lift the major indexes into positive territory.

Despite Monday's 92-4 vote, Republicans are likely to kill the bill later this week if, as expected, they're not allowed by the Senate's Democratic leadership to propose amendments.

Stocks surged Monday after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested the U.S. central bank would continue its present monetary policies and keep interest rates low, offsetting soft readings on the domestic economy.

As heads of state gathered for talks, demonstrators chanted: No nukes Asia, no nukes Korea, No nukes [America], no nukes anywhere! Many cited the disaster at power plants hit by the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan as proof of nuclear power's inherent risks.

The American Petroleum Institute launched a new ad campaign to battle against a U.S. Senate vote to eliminate oil tax breaks.

The American Petroleum Institute, the country's largest oil industry backed trade group, slammed the U.S. Senate as it readies to vote to eliminate tax breaks for oil companies.

Futures on major U.S. stock indices point to a higher opening Monday ahead of pending home sales data and a speech by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke.

Wall Street's gains came after positive remarks on the U.S. labor market by Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke and upbeat economic data from Germany that offset a soft reading on the U.S. housing market.

China Petroleum & Chemical Corp. (Sinopec) announced on Sunday a 2 percent rise in profit for the year 2011 thanks to higher oil prices and increasing fuel sales.

Analysts, economists, and market participants were concerned with three things this week, and three things only: inflation, inflation, and inflation.

A surprisingly weak U.S. new-home sales report Friday exposed the vulnerability of the nation's economic recovery and renewed hopes -- or fears, depending on one's views -- that the Federal Reserve will expand its balance sheet for a third time by purchasing more bonds.

The U.S. Senate is scheduled to vote Monday on whether or not to do away with tax breaks for the largest oil and natural gas companies.

Figures from industry analysts Experian Catalist showed drivers were paying an average £1.42 a liter, as fears over Iranian supplies have seen the price of crude oil soar more than 12 percent since January.

Sen. Bernard Sanders (Independent-Vt,), introduced a new law this week to curb speculation in oil futures.

Stocks mostly inched higher on Friday as rising energy shares offset early weakness, though the S&P 500 remained on track to break a five-week streak of gains.

Tuareg rebels in northern Mali, flush with arms and fighters from the Libyan revolution, pushed south Friday morning to occupy positions vacated by government forces as mutinous soldiers in the capital sought to complete a coup by arresting the president, military sources said.

Stocks took a big step back Thursday after more signs pointing to weakening economic conditions in China and Europe spooked investors to make a run for safety.

Standing in front of a row of pipes, President Barack Obama pledged on Thursday to accelerate approval for part of the Keystone XL pipeline, seeking to deflect criticism that his rejection of the full project helped create a climate for high gasoline prices.

High oil prices affect politics, schools, jobs, public budgets and almost every industry. But current pressures could be augmented if war breaks out between Israel or the United States and Iran, with the result being a costly disruption in global supply.

Crude oil prices declined in European trade Thursday as sentiment was dampened after reports indicated a sharp slowdown in the Chinese manufacturing activity in March.