Brent crude rose $6 to $113 on worries about Middle East contagion. (Reuters)

GM (NYSE: GM) is likely to post its first annual profit since 2004. (Reuters)

An effort by shareholders to get Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) to reveal a succession plan for Steve Jobs was voted down. (Reuters)

AIG (NYSE: AIG) may post a large loss but results from important divisions will be watched by Wall St.  (Reuters)

The Administration will push for $20 billion in loan modifications as part of a settlement to settle foreclosure problems. (WSJ)

The US is about to make a decision on an Air Force tanker which will change the fortunes of either Boeing (NYSE: BA) or Airbus. (Reuters)

Most global markets fell on concerns about Libya. (Reuters)

An upcoming event staged by Apple will probably be used to launch the iPad 2. (Reuters)

Samsung released an ultra thin notebook in an attempt to get market share from Apple. (Reuters)

Google’s (NASDAQ: GOOG) YouTube will try to use Bollywood films and cricket to get a larger piece of the market in India. (Reuters)

Rio Tinto (NYSEL RTP) extended its $3.2 billion offer for Riverdale. (Reuters)

Obama will press banks to settle on mortgage foreclosure issues by reducing principles on large numbers of home loans. (WSJ)

A large number of Irish are leaving the country due to austerity measures. (WSJ)

Sears (NASDAQ: SHLD) named technology executive Lou D’Ambrosio as CEO. (WSJ)

The net income at BASF doubled. (WSJ)

Overstock (NASDAQ: OSTK) received penalties from Google (NASDAQ: GOOG) for misusing its AdWords system. (WSJ)

A bond sale from Illinois succeeded but at high interest rates. (WSJ)

Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) has quietly set up quality support plans. (WSJ)

Wall St. bonuses dropped in 2010. (WSJ)

Oil prices could damage the worldwide recovery. (WSJ)

GE (NYSE: GE) and Siemens will launch electric car charging products. (WSJ)

Google has created software that will allow users to transfer data from Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) desktop software to Apps. (WSJ)

State unionized workers have joined hands and set aside regional differences. (WSJ)

Republicans may set a deal to keep the government open for two weeks and cut $4 billion in spending if a budget agreement is not reached. (WSJ)

Calls for demonstrations in China continue to be made online. (WSJ)

The business of selling used handsets in booming. (WSJ)

A patent infringement case against Abbott (NYSE: ABT) was reversed. (WSJ)

Consumer products companies are having challenges as they try to pass along higher cost of goods prices to customers. (WSJ)

Moody’s reported that investors in distressed debt have done better in this recession than in prior ones. (WSJ)

About 12% of US banks are at risk of failure according to a study from the FDIC. (WSJ)

China may have to import more wheat. (WSJ)

Airlines are trying to raise fares as oil rises. (NYT)

Brent crude rose above $119. (FT)

Credit Suisse is looking at its US unit as part of a tax fraud investigation. (FT)

US farm prices have risen with the surge in the value of commodities. (FT)

The merger between Porsche and VW has slowed as shareholder issues are being scrutinized. (Bloomberg)

Douglas A. McIntyre