NEW YORK -- Oil futures climbed briefly to a new record above $142 a barrel Friday on expectations that the weakening dollar, a major factor in crude's stratospheric rise, will extend its decline and add to oil's appeal.

Microsoft experienced a ritual Friday that is common to offices across America: a valued employee's last day. Co-workers paused to gather around their departing colleague, speeches were made, and perhaps some cake was consumed.

Neurobiologist named U. of Utah's research exec -- Thomas N. Parks, executive director of the Brain Institute at the University of Utah, was named the university's vice president of research. His area of research focuses on understanding the development of the nervous system, especially the auditory system.

Bill extends jobless benefits by 13 weeks

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Reserve was scrambling to prevent a "contagion" from infecting the nation's financial system when it took unprecedented actions to back a Bear Stearns rescue package and provide emergency loans to big Wall Street firms.

Canopy names new technology expert -- Canopy Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm in Lindon, named Joe Levy its Technologist-in-Residence. Levy, an expert on network security issues, was most recently chief technology officer with SonicWALL Inc., a Utah network security infrastructure company.

NEW YORK -- Stocks plunged Thursday as Wall Street contended with a barrage of bad news: another surge in oil prices and warnings of trouble in the key financial, automotive and high-tech industries. The major indexes showed losses of about 2 percent, including the Dow Jones industrial average, which shed more than 300 points and dropped to its lowest level in nearly two years.

WASHINGTON -- Sales of existing homes nationwide rose slightly in May, only the second increase in the past 10 months. Prices, however, kept plunging and analysts said the large number of unsold homes indicated the prolonged slump in housing was far from over.