Indonesia court frees U.S. mining executives

JAKARTA, Indonesia -- A court ruled Thursday that detaining five executives of Newmont Mining Corp. was illegal, and the head of the Denver-based mining giant said he was optimistic the company and its employees would be exonerated of pollution charges at its Indonesian gold mine. CEO Wayne Murdy acknowledged that the Indonesian mine released 17 tons of waste mercury into the air and 16 tons into the water over five years. But he said the emissions were within Indonesian government standards.

Dollar reaches record low against euro

BERLIN -- The dollar hit an all-time low in thin pre-holiday trading Thursday against the euro, which breached the $1.35 mark after a mixed economic report from the U.S. Commerce Department. The 12-nation currency has risen sharply since September over concerns about U.S. trade and budget deficits.

Indicators show modest growth for economy

WASHINGTON -- America's consumers came off a buying binge and were somewhat less jolly spenders in November. New-home sales cooled from a record high, while demand for big-ticket manufactured goods rebounded. The numbers show a modestly growing economy, analysts said.