No more Internet cigarette sales by credit card

ALBANY, N.Y. -- Major credit card companies will no longer handle Internet sales of cigarettes under a nationwide agreement announced Thursday. The move is aimed at illegal dealers that are trying to avoid sales taxes or sell to underage customers. The agreement is effective immediately.

United Airlines' new ads kick at rival American

CHICAGO -- United Airlines is taking a kick at its biggest rival in a feisty new ad campaign. United is running ads in Chicago starting next week that target American Airlines' decision to add more first-class seats to its planes, thereby reducing leg room elsewhere. The ads carry such tag lines as "Fly American and you could kick yourself. Literally," and "The Straight Story on our Legroom vs. American."

Crude futures briefly rise above $57 a barrel

Oil prices briefly hit a new high above $57 a barrel Thursday and analysts said the recent rally appears to have steam left even after OPEC's chief said the group may allow pumping an extra half-million barrels a day. Light sweet crude for April delivery rose to $57.60 per barrel before retreating to settle at $56.40.