Oil Ekes Out a Slight Gain on Dollar

Oil futures rose modestly Tuesday as investors focused on the dollar's latest decline rather than new worries about the economy. Gas and diesel prices, meanwhile, retreated further from their recent record levels.

The dollar's decline against the euro, which ended a greenback rally that began last week, attracted investors back to oil. The U.S. currency's protracted slide was a big contributor to oil's march to nearly $112 in recent weeks; many investors regard oil and other commodities as inflation hedges, and turn to such hard assets when the dollar is falling.

But oil's slight gain was far from definitive, and followed a session in which prices …

SEX AND THE PITYAwkward position for female athletes

It is only coincidence that a Nightline" show devoted to sexappeal and women's sports would follow Monday Night Football" (afteryour local news).

Ah, appearances.

That's what women's pro sports have become greatly concernedabout.

If we create interest to get the fans out there, they're going tobe watching who's leading the golf tournament when they get there,"former LPGA standout Jan Stephenson said. They may go watch the othercute girls, but when it comes down to it, they're actually going tobe watching the winners."

Right.

People interested in Anna Kourni-kova for various assets willwatch some nondescript players after the Russian tennis tootsie …

Celebracion de la toma de Posesion de la Nueva Junta Directiva de la Union Espanola de California

Celebracion de la toma de posesion de la Nueva Junta Directiva de la Union Espanola de California

Texto por Jesus Insua

En la Union Espanola de California se celebro la toma de posesion de la nueva directiva, siendo nombrado como nuevo Presidente D. Leopoldo Benavente.

A …

Asian stocks fall despite Senate rescue plan vote

Asian stock markets retreated Thursday as broader concerns about a global economic slowdown outweighed any relief over the U.S. Senate's passage of the bailout package to rescue the U.S. financial system.

Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 stock average lost 1.1 percent at 11,242.65, while Hong Kong's Hang Seng index slipped 0.9 percent to 17,850.13.

Benchmarks in Australia, South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan were also in negative territory.

In Washington Wednesday, the Senate approved a revised rescue bill with tax breaks and other sweeteners by a vote of 74-25. The House of Representatives votes on the plan Friday.

But even if the package is …

Americans drop out of women's marathon

Constantina Tomescu-Dita ran away from the pack to win the women's marathon today in Beijing.

Deena Kastor, the top American runner in the field, pulled out early with a foot injury. Kastor, 35, dropped to one knee and held her right foot at about the 5-kilometer (3.1-mile) mark. She tried to walk it off but gave up.

''I felt a pop in my foot. I couldn't stand on it,'' Kastor said. ''I didn't expect to be finishing the marathon on a bus.''

American Magda Lewy also pulled out of the race with a sore knee.

''I hurt my knee a few days ago,'' she said. ''I just can't bend it, and it got worse and worse.''

Tomescu-Dita, a 38-year-old Romanian mother, …

Bears give up on DE Thomas

When the season started, Bears coach Dave Wannstedt and playerpersonnel director Mark Hatley thought defensive end Mark Thomasmight blossom into an impact player.

On Monday, they cut him.

In a curious move, the Bears waived Thomas, theirsecond-leading sacker (4 1/2) who had started as recently as Nov. 15against the Detroit Lions.The official explanation was that the move was"performance-related," according to Wannstedt and Hatley. Thomas didnot have a sack in his last four games. He had been hampered by aknee injury suffered against the Arizona Cardinals on Oct. 11 thatforced him to miss two games.Both Wannstedt and Hatley insisted the move was not related …

Bank of Korea says economic growth to slow in 2011

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea's economic growth is set to slow to a more normal level of 4.5 percent next year, the central bank said Friday in a report that warns of significant uncertainties for the outlook including tensions with North Korea.

The slowdown next year will be from forecast growth of 6.1 percent for 2010, a year in which South Korea's recovery from the global financial crisis and subsequent worldwide slowdown accelerated.

South Korea is the world's 15th-largest economy and an export powerhouse home to major global manufacturers including Samsung Electronics Co. and Hyundai Motor Co.

The Bank of Korea injected a note of caution into its outlook for …