BANGKOK – Oil prices hovered below $86 a barrel Friday in Asia, dragged lower by weak economic and earnings news.   Benchmark crude for March delivery was down 7 cents at $85.57 a barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.   The contract lost […]

BANGKOK – Oil prices hovered below $86 a barrel Friday in Asia, dragged lower by weak economic and earnings news.   Benchmark crude for March delivery was down 7 cents at $85.57 a barrel at late afternoon Bangkok time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.   The contract lost […]

By JEANNINE AVERSA, AP Economics Writer  WASHINGTON – Americans likely spent more freely and U.S.companies sold more abroad, giving the economy solid momentum at the end of last year. That’s boosting hopes for a stronger 2011.   Economists expect the government to report Friday that economic growth rose at an annualized rate […]