EU’s Barroso wins strong mandate for new term

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso won a strong mandate to combat Europe's economic crisis by gaining a clear majority in the European Parliament on Wednesday for a second five-year term. The

Oil up past $69; distillates concern caps gain

Oil rose past $69 a barrel on Tuesday, lifted by an expected draw in U.S. crude stocks and better-than-expected U.S. retail sales data, but concerns about rising U.S. distillate inventories capped gains.