1. ECB Raises Rates

The European Central Bank hiked interest rates for the eurozone by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent, a three-year high. ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet said the increase was done to control inflation. Some members voted for a 50-base point increase. more

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2. U.S. House Pushes for New Oil Refineries

The U.S. House of Representatives is finally working to make it easier to build domestic oil refineries, passing a bill Wednesday to simplify the permit process related to their construction. The last time a U.S. refinery was built? Try 1976. more

3. Jobless Claims Fall by Surprising 35,000

The number of laid off workers filing claims for unemployment plunged last week by the largest amount in eight months, but it might have been a statistical fluke. more

4. U.S. Credit Rating Hurt by Aging Population?

According to a new report from Standard & Poor's, the U.S. is in serious danger of losing its superior "AAA" credit rating as a result of budget pressures and the impact of a rapidly aging population. more

5. Oil Prices Drop on Death of al-Zarqawi

Oil prices fell below $70 per barrel Thursday for the first time in two weeks following the announcement of the death of al-Qaida's leader in Iraq, terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. more

6. WSJ: Condo Conversions Reverting

Developers who converted apartments into condos in the past year are now rethinking the move, says The Wall Street Journal. They're reverting the condos back into apartments – a trend one real estate analyst calls "repartments." more