By CHRIS KAHN, AP Energy Writer NEW YORK – Oil prices fell Monday amid signs the disruption to crude exports from Libya is easing. Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for April delivery dropped 73 cents to $97.15 per barrel as trading opened on the New York Mercantile Exchange. In London, […]

By The Associated Press WASHINGTON – Fewer Americans signed contracts to buy homes in January, the latest evidence that the housing market is struggling. The National Association of Realtors says its index of sales agreements for previously occupied homes fell 2.8 percent last month to a reading of 88.9, the […]

By JANE WARDELL, AP Business Writer LONDON – HSBC Holdings PLC increased its dividend Monday as it reported that profits more than doubled last year, but the bank disappointed investors by falling short of analysts’ forecasts and cutting its future profitability predictions. Shares in the bank dropped 5 percent by […]