Stocks surge as dollar strengthens...Ford profit...Home sales slide

NEW YORK (AP) A strengthening dollar has helped the stock market to do better today. The Dow was up more than 100 points at midday.

NEW YORK (AP) Shares of Ford Motor Company are posting a double-digit percentage gain. The automaker reported a 100-million-dollar profit in the first quarter, helped by strength in Europe and South America.

Washington (AP) New home sales fell in March to the slowest pace in more than 16 years. Added to that, a measure of new home prices took the biggest tumble in nearly four decades.

NEW YORK (AP) Crude oil prices have dipped after the recent run to near $120 a barrel. Light, sweet crude for June delivery fell $2.54 to $115.76 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

DUBLIN, Ohio (AP) One of the late Dave Thomas' daughters says the family is devastated by today's news that Wendy's is being sold to the parent company of Arby's. Triarc Companies says it is buying Wendy's International in an all-stock deal worth more than 2.3 billion dollars.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 04-24-08 1303CDT | save this article / add to your favorites list