Oil below $96 before crude stocks report, Fed

The price of oil fell Wednesday as investors waited for a report on U.S. crude stocks and the Federal Reserve's latest views on the U.S. economy.

Seen and heard at the Cannes Film Festival

Actor Damian Lewis poses for photographers during The Silent Storm portrait session at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Seen and heard at the Cannes Film Festival

Actor Damian Lewis poses for photographers during The Silent Storm portrait session at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP)

Seen and heard at the Cannes Film Festival

From left, actors Lea Seydoux, Camille Lellouche and director Rebecca Zlotowski pose during a photo call for the film Grand Central at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Lionel Cironneau)

Seen and heard at the Cannes Film Festival

From left, cast members Camille Lellouche, Denis Menochet, Lea Seydoux, director Rebecca Zlotowski and Tahar Rahim arrive for the screening of the film Jimmy P. Psychotherapy of a Plains Indian at the 66th international film festival, in Cannes, southern France, Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Phot…

Seen and heard at the Cannes Film Festival

Associated Press journalists open their notebooks at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.

Bank of England remains divided on stimulus

The Bank of England's policymakers remain divided on whether to provide more stimulus to the flat-lining economy, according to the minutes of their meeting in May.

7 Egyptian security men kidnapped in Sinai freed

Egyptian Army soldiers patrol in an armored vehicle backed by a helicopter gunship during a sweep through villages in in Sheikh Zuweyid, northern Sinai, Egypt, Tuesday, May 21, 2013. Egypt's government has built up security forces in northern Sinai as part of an effort to secure the release …

7 Egyptian security men kidnapped in Sinai freed

Six Egyptian policemen and a border guard kidnapped by suspected militants in the volatile Sinai Peninsula last week were freed by their captors Wednesday after successful mediation, the country's military spokesman said.

Monroe's photos for Prague exhibition stolen

A publicist for an upcoming Marilyn Monroe exhibition in Prague says that photographs of the star have been stolen.

Protesters rally over IRS' tea party scrutiny

Polly Beckham, of Ambler, Pa., holds a sign during a tea party rally protesting extra IRS scrutiny of their groups, Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Philadelphia. Tea party groups and other groups are urging activists across the country to demonstrate at their local Internal Revenue Service offices…

Protesters rally over IRS' tea party scrutiny

Protesters gather during a tea party rally against the extra IRS scrutiny of their groups., Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Philadelphia. Tea party groups and other groups are urging activists across the country to demonstrate at their local Internal Revenue Service offices. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Protesters rally over IRS' tea party scrutiny

Cliff Toye, of Tabernacle, holds a sign as he stands with others outside Internal Revenue Service offices Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Cherry Hill, N.J., during a tea party rally protesting extra IRS scrutiny of conservative groups. The Internal Revenue Service gave extra scrutiny to tea party …

Protesters rally over IRS' tea party scrutiny

Keith Peacock, of Hainesport, holds a sign during a tea party rally protesting extra IRS scrutiny of their groups, Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Cherry Hill, N.J. Tea party activists waving flags and signs, singing patriotic songs and chanting anti-IRS slogans protested outside federal buildings…

Protesters rally over IRS' tea party scrutiny

A woman holds an upside-down flag during a tea party rally protesting extra IRS scrutiny of their groups, Tuesday, May 21, 2013, in Cherry Hill, N.J. Tea party activists waving flags and signs, singing patriotic songs and chanting anti-IRS slogans protested outside federal buildings across t…

Protesters rally over IRS' tea party scrutiny

Tea party activists waving flags and signs, singing patriotic songs and chanting anti-IRS slogans held rallies outside federal buildings across the country to protest the agency's extra scrutiny of conservative groups.

World stocks mixed ahead of Fed chief testimony

A visitor takes a picture of an electronic stock board on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday after investor confidence was boosted by a Federal Reserve official's comments that the U.S. central bank should stick with i…

World stocks mixed ahead of Fed chief testimony

A TV cameraman films at the Tokyo Stock Exchange in Tokyo, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday after investor confidence was boosted by a Federal Reserve official's comments that the U.S. central bank should stick with its super-easy monetary policy. (AP…

World stocks mixed ahead of Fed chief testimony

Tokyo Stock Exchange employees work at the computer terminal in Tokyo, Wednesday, May 22, 2013. Asian stock markets were mostly higher Wednesday after investor confidence was boosted by a Federal Reserve official's comments that the U.S. central bank should stick with its super-easy monetary…

World stocks mixed ahead of Fed chief testimony

World stock markets were mixed Wednesday, hours before Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke is to deliver remarks before Congress on the state of the U.S. economy.

Fishermen pay price in Asia's volatile sea rifts

In this May 7, 2013 photo, a Filipino fishermen carries a load of fish from a boat in the coastal town of Infanta, Pangasinan province, northwestern Philippines. Since China took control of the Scarborough Shoal last year, which Beijing calls Huangyan Island, Filipino fishermen say Chinese m…

Fishermen pay price in Asia's volatile sea rifts

In this May 7, 2013 photo, Filipino fishermen bring their fish to shore in the coastal town of Infanta, Pangasinan province, northwestern Philippines. Since China took control of the Scarborough Shoal last year, which Beijing calls Huangyan Island, Filipino fishermen say Chinese maritime sur…

Fishermen pay price in Asia's volatile sea rifts

In this May 7, 2013 photo, a Filipino fisherman places ice on containers for fish before they are delivered to the market in the coastal town of Infanta, Pangasinan province, northwestern Philippines. Since China took control of the Scarborough Shoal last year, which Beijing calls Huangyan I…

Fishermen pay price in Asia's volatile sea rifts

In this May 7, 2013 photo, a Filipino fisherman sorts fish before delivery in the coastal town of Infanta, Pangasinan province, northwestern Philippines. Since China took control of the Scarborough Shoal last year, which Beijing calls Huangyan Island, Filipino fishermen say Chinese maritime …

Fishermen pay price in Asia's volatile sea rifts

In this May 7, 2013 photo, fish trader Joey Legazpi tends to his store in the coastal town of Infanta, Pangasinan province, northwestern Philippines. Since China took control of the Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea and roped off the entrance to the vast lagoon that had been their fis…