AFP - Mexico's state-owned Pemex oil company said that the new oil fields it discovered two years ago in the Gulf of Mexico could yield more than two billion barrels of oil.

AFP - India on Thursday urged the United States to take the lead in resuming global free trade talks after the EU trade chief lashed out at "protectionism" by President Barack Obama's administration.

AP - Congressional Democrats on Thursday trimmed their original student loan plans, reduced spending for community colleges, and eliminated early childhood money from a broad rewrite of a college aid bill piggybacked on to fast-track health care legislation.

AP - Palm Inc. reported sales figures Thursday that showed it's having a difficult time getting consumers to pay attention to its phones in a market dominated by iPhones and BlackBerrys. The company's shares plunged in after-hours trading.

AFP - Leading shares dipped at the open on Thursday as profit-takers moved to cash in on the previous day's gains.

AP - Oil prices drifted below $82 a barrel Friday in Asia, pulling back from a monthlong rally that was fueled by mostly positive news about the U.S. economy.

AP - Japanese police are recommending charges against a driver who says his Toyota Prius crashed because of brake failure after an analysis of "black box" data showed no defects.

AP - China stepped up resistance Friday to U.S. pressure over currency, calling on Washington to cool its "politicization and emotionalization" of the issue and warning a further rise in its yuan could drive exporters out of business.

AP - World stock markets turned higher Friday as modestly positive reports about the U.S. economy underpinned optimism about the global recovery.