Malls fill vacancies with nontraditional tenants

Community college classes in the old mall movie theater. A DMV office across from the Starbucks. Maybe a local library between the Victoria's Secret and the Gap.

Business briefing -- July 6

new business

Business calendar -- July 6

Kiwanis Club of Olympia meets at noon Mondays at The Viewpoint Room below Tugboat Annies, 2100 West Bay Drive N.W., Olympia. 360-250-0288.

Foreign tourists avoid U.S.; economy misses billions

LAS VEGAS - Despite the weak U.S. dollar, a boom in international travel around the world hasn't translated into an explosion of foreign tourists to the United States.

Oil prices fall on Iran report

Oil prices fell more than $1 a barrel Friday from record levels set a day earlier on hopes that tensions surrounding Iran's nuclear program could ease and cut the chances of military action by the United States or Israel against OPEC's second-largest oil producer.

Bourbons see popularity grow

Exports, younger drinkers fuel demand for Southern beverage

Business briefs

Gay-marriage opponents shun McDonald's

Few fireworks among globe's markets

LONDON - European markets fell and Asian markets were mixed Friday as investors digested uneven readings on the U.S. economy and oil prices that remained near records. Japan posted its 12th straight day of losses.

Buisiness briefs for July 4

• European bank raises key rate to 4.25 percent
• Former Refco CEO given 16 years in jail for fraud
• Lawyers face new trial in diet-drug settlement

Stock markets finish short week unevenly

NEW YORK - Wall Street capped a shortened trading week with a mixed finish Thursday after some uneven economic data: news of a contraction in the nation's services sector and a tame reading on employment. But stocks still had their third dismal week in a row, with the major indexes again posting losses as worries about rising oil prices and the fallout from the credit crisis dogged the market.