Dow closes below 10,000 for first time in 3 months

NEW YORK (AP) _ The Dow Jones industrial average closed below 10,000 for the first time in three months Monday on nagging concerns about debt loads in Europe. Shares of big banks pulled the market lower, extending a slump that has led to four straight weekly losses.

Transformers drive Hasbro 4Q profit increase

NEW YORK (AP) _ Strength in its boys' brands like Transformers and Nerf, along with its core game brands including Scrabble and Monopoly, should boost Hasbro's results in 2010, the company said Monday. The owner of the G.I. Joe, Tonka and Playskool brands also said it expects sales and earnings per share to grow this year, although it didn't offer specifics.

Wintry weather drives energy prices higher

NEW YORK (AP) _ Energy prices climbed Monday as another winter storm was expected to dump even more snow on the East Coast. Already, parts of Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Washington are blanketed in about three feet of snow, knocking out power for tens of thousands of people and forcing government offices to close.

Boeing's 747-8 freighter makes first flight

EVERETT, Wash. (AP) _ Boeing Co.'s giant 747-8 freighter _ the biggest plane the company has ever built _ took off on its first flight Monday, a year later than originally planned. The huge plane took off from Everett's Paine Field after a weather delay. It was to land later in the day at Seattle's Boeing Field.

Super Bowl is most watched TV show ever

NEW YORK (AP) _ The New Orleans Saints' victory over Indianapolis in the Super Bowl was watched by more than 106 million people, surpassing the 1983 finale of "M-A-S-H" to become the most-watched program in U.S. television history, the Nielsen Co. said Monday. Compelling story lines involving the city of New Orleans and its ongoing recovery from Hurricane Katrina and the attempt at a second Super Bowl ring for Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning propelled the viewership. Football ratings have been strong all season.

Europe could face years-long debt grind

ATHENS, Greece (AP) _ Is there any way out of Europe's debt morass? Greece's efforts to restore confidence in its finances have only called attention to its woes, and now investors are fretting debt contagion could spread to other countries, starting with similarly troubled Portugal, but with markets wondering who's next.

Reports: Toyota plans to recall 300,000 Priuses

TOKYO (AP) _ Toyota plans to recall about 300,000 Prius hybrids worldwide over a brake problem and is likely to notify both the U.S. and Japanese governments Tuesday, news reports said, as a top executive will testify before U.S. lawmakers about defects that have tarnished its reputation for quality and safety. The recall of the gas-electric Prius will cover the latest version of the cars that went on sale from May last year, Kyodo News agency reported late Monday.

CVS Caremark 4Q profit grows 11 percent

NEW YORK (AP) _ CVS Caremark Corp., one of the nation's biggest drugstore operators, said Monday its profit rose 11 percent in the fourth quarter as results improved for its pharmacy benefits management business. CVS shares rose $1.95, or 6.3 percent, to $33.02. in afternoon trading.

CIT names ex-Merrill CEO Thain as chairman, CEO

NEW YORK (AP) _ John Thain is getting a second chance. CIT Group Inc., the lender that is trying to regain its former stature after almost collapsing during the financial industry crisis, said late Sunday it has hired the former Merrill Lynch & Co. CEO as its chairman and chief executive.

HHS secretary asks insurer to justify rate hike

WASHINGTON (AP) _ The Obama administration on Monday asked California's largest for-profit health insurer to justify plans to hike customers' premiums by as much as 39 percent, a move that could affect some 800,000 customers. In a letter to the president of Anthem Blue Cross, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said she was very disturbed to learn of the planned increases, calling them "extraordinary." She said they were hard to understand in light of the profitability of Anthem's parent company, WellPoint Inc.