Oil plummets below $44 per barrel on economic news    By Charlie Riedel (AP)

Oil prices were steady near four-year lows below $44 a barrel Friday in Asia as more bad U.S. economic news soured the outlook for global growth and demand for crude.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery was down 3 cents at $43.64 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midmorning in Singapore. The contract fell overnight $3.12 to settle at $43.67, the lowest since January 2005.   Read More...

Hutchison takes step toward run for Texas governor    By Donna McWilliam (AP) 

In a move that could spark a bruising Republican primary battle in 2010, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is taking formal steps toward a run for Texas governor.  Read More...