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First Published Mar 01 2013 06:03 pm • Last Updated Mar 01 2013 06:03 pm

Pound drops amid

U.K. economy woes

The pound hit a two-and-a-half-year low against the dollar on fears weak manufacturing data could push Britain’s central bank to order quantitative easing to rev up the economy. Sterling fell 1.13 percent Friday to be worth $1.49 — its first foray below $1.50 since mid-2010.

Crude oil down,

pump prices dip

Crude oil fell 1.5 percent, to its lowest level this year, on worrisome economic developments in the world’s largest oil-consuming nations. That should allow drivers to catch their breath after a record rise in gas prices so far this year. The average price for a gallon of gas rose 49 cents from Jan. 1 through Feb. 28, eclipsing the 46 cent jump in the same period last year.

Rite Aid expands

online doctor help

Drugstore chain Rite Aid Corp. said it has expanded an online doctor service for its customers. The company’s NowClinic Online Care program is available at 58 locations in four cities, Baltimore, Boston, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Customers can consult with doctors by video or phone, or through an online chat, about a range of ailments. A 10-minute consultation costs $45.

Beam dips into

white whiskey

The world’s top bourbon producer is reaching into moonshining’s colorful past to create its own white whiskey. Beam Inc.’s newest spirit is called Jacob’s Ghost, in honor of Jacob Beam, founding distiller of its flagship Jim Beam brand. Jacob’s Ghost resembles the concoction that flowed from the pioneer’s still in the 1790s, or from a moonshiner’s still today.

Berkshire profits

up on paper gain

Warren Buffett’s company saw a 49 percent surge in fourth-quarter profit because of a big paper gain on its investments, but the investor called the year subpar as Berkshire’s results lagged the S&P 500. The company reported $4.55 billion in net income, or $2,757 per share, up from $3.05 billion in net income, or $1,846 per share, the year before.

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