DATELINE (AP) Stocks closed mixed today, but it was a positive showing for the week. The Dow gained nearly 50 points, while the Nasdaq dropped 29 and the S&P was little changed.

NEW YORK (AP) Crude oil fell again today, marking biggest one-week drop in more than three years. Light, sweet crude for August delivery fell 41 cents to settle at $128.88 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

NEW YORK (AP) Citigroup today helped to further calm Wall Street worries about the financial sector. Its shares rose more than 7 percent after reporting a smaller quarterly loss than expected.

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) Volkswagen is ready to start hiring for its new Chattanooga, Tennessee, assembly plant, starting with about 50 jobs related to purchasing and the start of construction.

It will be running weekend newspaper adds. Production at the plant is slated to start in early 2011.

LOS ANGELES (AP) A tracking firm says the new Batman movie has set a Box Office record for a debut at midnight. Media By Numbers says "The Dark Knight" brought in 18.5 million dollars today from its midnight screening alone in 3,040 theaters.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 07-18-08 1546CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list