The Dow Jones industrial average has surged to 12,874, which is the market measure's highest close since May 2008. And the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite has hit its highest point in more than 11 years.

Toyota says it will expand its factory in Princeton, Ind., and add 400 jobs so it can build more Highlander SUVs.

The hiring and expansion will come next year.

One of the nation's largest consumer debt buyers will pay a $2.5 million civil fine to settle deception allegations.

Microsoft Corp. says its net income in the quarter that ended in December was roughly flat from a year ago as revenue rose 5 percent despite a soft market for personal computers.

Wal-Mart has named an executive from CBS Interactive as its new head of online operations.

A federal agency is siding with Apple and ordering an import ban on HTC phones that infringe on a patent belonging to the iPhone maker.

Consumer prices stayed flat in November, the latest sign that inflation has cooled off. Energy costs dropped for the second straight month, which offset higher prices that Americans paid for food, clothes and medical services.

Engineering experts who studied the BP oil spill are blaming what they say are the drilling industry's inadequate safety practices for many of the bad decisions that led to the nation's worst offshore spill.

Despite more than three years and a powerful new bull market, the financial meltdown of 2008 still has many Americans worried about their retirement future.