NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks have finished the day lower, as investors await the start of corporate earnings season. The Dow ended 44 points lower, and the S&P 500 lost nearly eight points, after both indexes reached their latest record highs last week. The Nasdaq composite index fell 34 points. Shares in major airlines fell on the news of the stricter security measures that will affect international flights into the United States.
UNDATED (AP) — The price of oil slipped below $104 a barrel today on expectations that Libya will soon boost its exports of crude. Benchmark U.S. crude for August delivery fell 53 cents to close at $103.53 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils used by many U.S. refineries, fell 40 cents to close at $110.24 in London.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Delta Air Lines drastically reduced service to Venezuela today in a dispute with the government over revenue trapped in the South American country. The move left disgruntled fliers scrambling to rebook seats on one of the dwindling number of carriers with full service to the socialist country. Delta is slashing service by 85 percent starting Aug. 1, replacing its daily roundtrip flight between Atlanta and Caracas with one roundtrip weekend flight, according to spokeswoman Sarah Lora.
DALLAS (AP) — United Airlines is outsourcing more than 600 jobs at 12 airports around the country to cut costs while adding jobs at other airports. The airline says it notified employees of the decision, which had been expected since May. They include ticket and gate agents and baggage handlers at airports served mostly by smaller United Express flights.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A new report says homeowners have received about $3.1 billion in cash under a federal settlement with 13 big banks over alleged misconduct in processing mortgages that may have resulted in wrongful foreclosures. The report by the Federal Reserve says 83 percent of the 4.2 million borrowers covered by the January 2013 settlement, or about 3.4 million, had cashed checks as of April 25. The amounts paid range from several hundred dollars to $125,000.
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