Crude on the rise for fifth day, nearing $98; natural gas gains

Date: Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:06:13 (GMT)

Crude on the rise for fifth day, nearing $98; natural gas gains

SAN FRANCISCO
Crude-oil futures rose more than $1 to approach $98 a barrel Friday,
extending the benchmark contract's string of gains into a fifth straight
session and on track for a weekly gain of more than $4.

Genesco's shares jump after court ruling; Finish Line plunges

NEW YORK
Shares of Genesco Inc. jumped Friday, gaining as a judge ruled that
executives of the shoe retailer -- target of a $1.5 billion buyout by
Finish Line Inc. -- didn't commit fraud during merger negotiations and
ordered Finish Line to complete the deal.

Economic Report: U.S. new-home sales off 9%, more than forecast, in
November

Sales of new U.S. homes fell by a greater-than-expected 9% in November
to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 647,000, the Commerce Department
reported Friday.

Financial Stocks: Bond insurers drop on Buffett's reinsurance plan

LONDON
The battered bond insurance industry took another hit on Friday after
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway reportedly started a rival firm
targeting municipal issuers.

Market Snapshot: Stocks higher, but downbeat home sales report caps
gains

NEW YORK
Stocks were higher Friday, but a disappointing report on new home sales
for November capped gains and rekindled concerns about the U.S. economy
and the housing crisis.