New York - US stock indices made gains Wednesday after government figures showed demand is rising for long-lasting goods and housing.

Durable goods orders increased 3.4 per cent in February, and purchases of new homes jumped 4.7 per cent, adding to a spate of slightly more positive economic news coming out of the United States in the last week.

The blue-chip Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 89.84 points, or 1.17 per cent, to 7,749.81, rallying during the final hour from a more than 100-point drop earlier in the afternoon.

New York  - Humanitarian workers and United Nations personnel on diplomatic missions have become prime targets for kidnapping, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said Wednesday on the International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members.

Nineteen UN staff members have been arrested, detained or are missing, Ban said, urging governments and non-government organizations to help locate and free them.

New York - The United Nations on Wednesday expressed concern about the lack of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas and the increasing violence two months after Israel declared a unilateral end to hostilities.

UN Undersecretary General for Political Affairs B Lynn Pascoe said the Middle East is faced with a "worrying situation of impasse and uncertainty."

New York  - Despite record losses, the chief of Ford Motors, Alan Mulally, earned 13.6 million dollars in 2008 but has agreed to a huge salary cut for this and next year, Ford motor company said Tuesday.

The 2008 income included 2 million dollars in regular salary plus long-term stock options, the country's second largest car producer said. That amount however was 37 per cent less than the previous year.

New York  - US stocks fell sharply on Tuesday, one day after posting their biggest gains of the year, as the US administration sought new powers to control failing financial firms.

Banking shares, which gained some 18 per cent on Monday, led the market decline amid speculation that Congress will no longer back more money for struggling Wall Street institutions.

New York  - Despite record losses, the chief of Ford Motors, Alan Mulally, earned 13.6 million dollars in 2008.

The money included 2 million dollars in regular salary plus long- term stock options, the country's second largest car producer said Tuesday in a statement.

Mulally did not receive a bonus for 2008, in contrast to 2007. For the current and next years, he has agreed to a 30-per-cent salary reduction.

Ford reported record losses of 15 billion dollars for 2008 - but still has enough cash reserves to survive.