News; capping a wild year for energy prices that saw oil spike

Over the last 12 months, U.S. unemployment has jumped by more than a
percentage point as the nation weathered a deepening recession that has spread
around the world. Many economists are predicting even higher rates of
unemployment in 2009.Wednesday, the U.S. Labor Department provided a glimmer of
unexpected good news. New claims for unemployment benefits fell by more than
90,000 at the end of last week compared to the previous week. Overall, however,
the number of Americans receiving unemployment benefits remains at the highest
level seen since 1982.Having been battered by a year of sour economic news, U.S.
markets were little-impressed by the latest unemployment figure, according to
Art Cashin of UBS Financial Services. "To see a number down 92,000, particularly
given the economic environment that we have, made the number look a bit
suspicious [to investors]," said Cashin.Oil prices CHI straightener traded just below $ discount CHI hair straightener 40 a barrel
Wednesday best straightener , capping
a wild year for energy prices that saw oil spike to a record-high of nearly $150
a barrel in July. Oil prices have been on an almost-uninterrupted slide downward
ever since, pushed lower by a global recession that has weakened demand for
fuel.