The stock market had its best week in more than two years, but ended this session little changed. The Dow Jones industrial average fell less than a point to close at 12,019. The S&P 500 index also fell less than a point to 1,244. The Nasdaq rose under a point to 2,627.
- The unemployment rate dropped to a surprisingly low 8.6 percent in November, driven in part by small businesses that finally see reason to hope and hire. The economy has now generated 100,000 or more jobs five months in a row - the first time that has happened since April 2006, well before the Great Recession.
- The U.S. Justice Department says it has approved Google's acquisition of online advertising service Admeld. Officials concluded the deal wouldn't diminish competition in one of the Internet's most lucrative marketing niches.
- Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper will meet with President Barack Obama at the White House next week. They are expected to announce an agreement to enhance border security and
trade and discuss the delay of a proposed oil pipeline from Canada.
- Oil prices rose more than 4 percent this week. Benchmark crude rose 76 cents to finish the week at $100.96 per barrel in New York. Prices climbed almost every day after ending at $96.77 a barrel a week ago.
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Sanford Has New Program For Premature Babies
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