Business News

RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Stocks across Latin America remained at record highs this week to close out a year that saw some markets double in value.

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A pre-Christmas warming trend across the United States cooled off natural gas prices last week.

U.S. stocks flat as 2003 winds down ... Argentine bank workers strike again ... Alcohol beverage makers urge moderation ... Brazil's economy soared in '03

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Major indexes were little changed Wednesday in light trading, closing 2003 not with a bang but a whisper.

PARMA, Italy, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- As more arrests were made Wednesday in the investigation of Italian dairy firm Parmalat, a lawyer for its former CEO described his client as "a broken man."

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Increased consumption and a drop in imports combined last week to trim the U.S. crude oil supply by 3.8 million barrels.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Haiti, independent two hundred years Thursday, holds a distinction that is almost but probably not quite unique: it was richer per capita in 1804 than it is in 2004. How do we know that by 2204 the United States will not have shared Haiti's fate, and be p

SEOUL, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- It has been a pretty good year for the South Korean economy and financial markets. Despite geopolitical risks due to North Korea's nuclear ambitions and a drag

In the end, it was a good year for stock markets worldwide. All major bourses saw their prices rebound from their lows reached in March, as the United States pr

SAO PAULO, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- As good as many stock markets have been in 2003, none has approached Brazil's -- up a world-beating 136 percent year-to-date.

Though it is not without opposition, Malaysia's ruling coalition is expected to win convincingly the upcoming general election. It will be the first leadership

Stocks edge up in United States ... Tanzi, eight Parmalat executives arrested ... Pentagon pulls Halliburton contract ... Bush gives federal workers a raise ... News from United Press International.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A lucrative contract for getting fuel into Iraq, currently held by Halliburton, will be rebid, the U.S. Defense Department has decided.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- In the United States and around the world, individuals and groups are rushing to contribute monetary and other much needed aid to the stricken Iranian city of B

Wall Street ends mixed Tuesday ... Parmalat founder ordered to stay in jail ... California bull housing market to continue ... Nikkei shows first 12-month gain in years ... Russian oil giant owes $3.3 billion ... News from United Press International