Business News

LAGUNA NIGUEL, Calif., Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Surfboard makers struggle with high demand and low supply more than three weeks after a market leader called it quits.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- A glut in homes for sale is prompting Washington, D.C.-area home builders to offer extras to snag customers.

SANYA, China, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- Citigroup may become the first foreign company to have majority control of a state-owned Chinese bank.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Health and Human Services Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a brochure on questions patients should ask before surgery.

DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Many U.S. patients in emergency rooms with symptoms of a heart attack received doses of drugs to stop clotting outside of the recommended range.

DURHAM, N.C., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. adults enjoy good health for a longer period than previously realized, but many factors compromise health in the elderly.

BOSTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Many older U.S. breast cancer survivors do not undergo annual mammography despite recommendations, say Boston researchers.

SEATTLE, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. employers are increasingly offering preventive healthcare services as part of their employee benefits, as a way to cut the healthcare costs.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs encourages all women veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system to get tested for cervical cancer.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- University of British Columbia researchers say a new technique has the potential to reduce the toxicity of vaccines and to make smaller doses more effective.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A Cambridge, Mass., biotech company has received an approvable letter from the U.S. government for an injectable treatment for alcoholism.

U.S. stocks finish 2005 with a loss ... Russia prepares to cut gas to Europe ... Analysis: Rich get richer, but so do poor ... Libya welcomes big U.S. oil companies ... China letting foreigners handle yuan trade ... Tokyo stocks up more than 40 percent i

NEW YORK, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- A group of private researchers have determined that 65 of the nation's 299 biggest real estate markets are severely overpriced.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Washington will miss its deadline to legislate the Central American Free Trade Agreement that President George Bush had pushed for.

TOKYO, Dec. 30 (UPI) -- Inpex Corp. of Japan plans to develop Iran's Azadegan oil field next year, Asahi Shimbun reported Friday.