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Crude prices forcing airlines to scale back— Cost-cutting in the airline industry took center stage Tuesday as the focus on merger talk got pushed aside by high oil prices. READ STORY Stocks soar after Federal Reserve trims rate—The Federal Reserve took another aggressive step in its campaign to prevent a deep and devastating recession Tuesday, cutting a key interest rate by three-quarters of a percentage point. READ STORY • Asian stock markets follow the lead of Wall Street rally • Bear Stearns' words draw SEC's attention • Lehman Bros., Goldman Sachs aim for transparency • Exxon Mobil loses PDVSA suit in Britain • Economic hurdles ahead for Harris County • Boeing says contest for tanker contract unfair • French trader freed as investigation continues • Moneymakers: Fund manager VanLoh preaches patience • Digest: Former banker starts advisory firm • Around the region • Around the nation • Around the world MORE Where to find us Business News Houston Chronicle P.O. Box 4260 Houston, TX 77210 713-362-7585 fax 713-362-7273 Business editor: Laura Goldberg laura.goldberg@chron.com Assistant business editors: Mark Babineck mark.babineck@chron.com Ken Lanterman ken.lanterman@chron.com Don Mason don.mason@chron.com

Business ticker From the Associated Press • Wal-Mart 'green store' cuts energy Mar 19 2008 2:19AM • US Airways pilots fight over union Mar 19 2008 1:01AM • Visa IPO charges ahead, raising $17.9B Mar 19 2008 12:56AM • Gov't has plan to ease capital collars Mar 19 2008 12:49AM • Asian stocks rally after Fed cut Mar 19 2008 12:19AM • British judge rules against Exxon Mobil Mar 18 2008 11:22PM • Visa raises $17.9B in largest US IPO Mar 18 2008 7:40PM • Mitsubishi tests electric car Mar 18 2008 6:36PM • Dow Jones in news deal with France's AFP Mar 18 2008 5:52PM • Execs say fear about economy may have cooled airline merger fever Mar 18 2008 5:49PM • Treasurys decline after Fed cuts rates Mar 18 2008 4:52PM • Dollar wobbles after Fed cuts Mar 18 2008 4:51PM • Bush: More help possible for economy Mar 18 2008 4:46PM • Investment banks soar on strong earnings Mar 18 2008 4:44PM • CVS Caremark settling Medicaid case Mar 18 2008 4:36PM • Bush: More help possible for economy Mar 18 2008 4:24PM • Venezuela praises ruling against asset freeze by Exxon Mobil Mar 18 2008 4:10PM • Higher fuel prompts Delta to cut jobs Mar 18 2008 3:52PM MORE AP NEWS Special Reports 2007 Foreclosures — A searchable database on foreclosure rates in 856 neighborhoods in Houston. The Quarterly Report — Experts say Houston's strong energy base will help it escape some of the impact of a national recession. With graphics. Chronicle 100 — An annual report on Houston's leading businesses. HomeFront — The Chronicle's in-depth analysis of home prices in Houston-area neighborhoods. The Fall of Enron — The financial collapse, bankruptcy and trials surrounding Houston’s biggest corporate scandal. Texas City explosion — The deadly BP blast of March 2005. HIGHEST PAID EXECS Search or sort a database of more than 500 top-paid executives at publicly held companies based in the Houston area. Executive: Company: Top execs earned less last year How Chronicle added it up Exec pay notes Severance's epic payday Multimedia Reports Exploring Mars — Shell's giant Gulf platform is back on track after Katrina. A Taste of Texas — Texas dude ranches help foreign tourists find their inner cowboy. Stoves for Guatemala — A simple design by a Texas nonprofit changes the lives of poor women. Gas prices — What goes into the price of a gallon of gasoline?