AFP - The troubled US housing sector saw little relief in April as sales declined and prices fell further, creating a record glut of homes for sale, an industry group said Friday.

AP - Existing home sales fell for the eighth time in the past nine months, a string of weakness expected to continue as the housing industry, mired in its worst slump in decades, battles falling home prices, tight lending conditions and a weak economy.

Reuters - Sales of previously owned U.S. homes slipped last month and the backlog of unsold properties hit a record high, according to data on Friday that suggested the market's downturn still has a long way to run.

AP - Wall Street steadied itself Thursday after two sessions of steep declines, rebounding moderately as oil prices stepped back from their frenetic upward run.

Reuters - Stocks rose modestly on Thursday after two days of steep declines as energy prices pulled back from record highs and a proposed acquisition in the utilities sector buoyed optimism.

AP - Fast-rising gas prices claimed their latest victim Thursday: Ford Motor Co., which dropped its goal of becoming profitable by 2009 and said it will cut production of trucks and sport utility vehicles through the rest of this year. It was a warning shot to the rest of the beleaguered U.S. auto industry, which is facing its worst sales in more than a decade.

Reuters - U.S. home prices fell a record 1.7 percent in the first quarter and the number of workers on jobless benefit rolls held at a four-year high, underscoring the economy's woes, data on Thursday showed.

AP - Wall Street rebounded moderately Thursday after two sessions of steep declines brought by the surging price of oil.

Reuters - Stocks were mostly flat on Thursday as the price of oil weighed on sentiment as it hit another record high before retreating, offsetting gains by financial company shares.

AP - The number of newly laid off workers filing for unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to the lowest level in a month.

AP - Ford Motor Co. is cutting North American production of pickups and SUVs as car buyers eyeing record gas prices turn toward more fuel-efficient models. The automaker says it no longer expects to return to profitability by 2009 and didn't rule out layoffs and plant closures.