Commodities

Wall Street ended flat on Thursday as a steep fall for the energy sector countered some solid earnings reports, with major stock indexes closing little changed after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a healthcare overhaul.

Oil prices tumbled about 5 percent on Thursday, breaking below $50 a barrel to the lowest since late November on signs that OPEC and other producing countries would not take more drastic steps to reduce the world's stubbornly persistent glut of crude.

Grain futures were lower Thursday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Grain futures were mixed Wednesday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade.

___ Fed leaves rates unchanged but signals further hikes ahead WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve has left interest rates unchanged while signaling that it expects a resilient U.S. economy and solid job market to justify further rate hikes later this year.

___ Fed leaves rates unchanged but signals further hikes ahead WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve has left interest rates unchanged while signaling that it expects a resilient U.S. economy and solid job market to justify further rate hikes later this year.

Wall Street ended slightly lower on Wednesday after the U.S. Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged and investors digested another heavy round of earnings reports.

Grain futures were higher Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Grain futures were higher Wednesday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Oil prices were little changed on Wednesday in a volatile session as the market mulled U.S. government data showing that while there were signs a crude glut may be receding, crude inventories remain large with gasoline demand weak.

U.S. stock indexes are little changed Tuesday morning as weak auto sales drag down car makers even as other companies report strong earnings.

___ Lawmakers to airlines: Improve service or Congress steps in WASHINGTON (AP) — The chief executive of United Airlines apologized Tuesday on Capitol Hill for an incident in which a passenger was dragged off a flight, calling it "a mistake of epic proportions" as frustrated lawmakers warned airline executives to improve customer service or face congressional intervention.

___ Lawmakers to airlines: Improve service or Congress steps in WASHINGTON (AP) — The chief executive of United Airlines apologized Tuesday on Capitol Hill for an incident in which a passenger was dragged off a flight, calling it "a mistake of epic proportions" as frustrated lawmakers warned airline executives to improve customer service or face congressional intervention.

Brent crude oil prices fell on Tuesday to its lowest level in over five months, erasing all of the gains since OPEC agreed to cut production at the end of November, after breaking through a key technical support level.

Brent crude oil prices fell on Tuesday to its lowest level in over five months, erasing all of the gains since OPEC agreed to cut production at the end of November, after breaking through a key technical support level.

Wall Street edged higher on Tuesday as gains for the tech and industrial sectors countered weakness in auto and energy stocks and investors digested a heavy day of earnings reports.

Wall Street edged higher on Tuesday as gains for the tech and industrial sectors countered weakness in auto and energy stocks and investors digested a heavy day of earnings reports.

Grain futures were higher Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Grain futures were higher Monday on the Chicago Board of Trade.

Grain futures were higher Monday in early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade.