NEW YORK (AP) A late push to the upside helped stocks to close with gains. The Dow rose nearly 173 points to 8,591. The S&P rose nearly 22 points, while the Nasdaq surged 42 and a-half.

DETROIT (AP) The UAW says it's willing to change its contracts with U.S. automakers and accept delayed payments of billions of dollars to a union-run health-care trust. Union President Ron Gettelfinger also says the union will suspend a jobs bank, in which laid-off workers are paid up to 95 percent of their salaries while not working.

Washington (AP) The Federal Reserve's just-released snapshot of regional economic conditions suggests that the economy has seen further contraction. The Beige Book survey finds that economic activity weakened across all the Fed's districts.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) oil prices fell slightly. Light, sweet crude for January delivery fell 17 cents to settle at $46.79 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

WASHINGTON (AP) Don't look for them right away, but President George W. Bush has signed legislation to mint a commemorative silver dollar marking the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act.

Sponsors of the measure include President-elect Barack Obama and Rep. John Lewis, a veteran of the civil rights movement from Atlanta. The U.S. Mint is slated to produce 350,000 of the $1 coins in 2014.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) APNP 12-03-08 1630CST | save this article / add to your favorites list