Hopes of a possible second-half recovery in crude demand and upbeat U.S. earnings lifted oil prices above $50 Friday, despite recent dismal economic data and growing U.S. inventories.

Hopes that Russia would get natural gas flowing again to shivering Europeans vanished like a winter’s breath Tuesday when Moscow turned on the taps, then alleged hours later that Ukraine was blocking the shipments.

Hopes by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers that they would strike a budget deal by week’s end have fizzled, with both saying they’ll try again Monday.

Hopes to reach agreement at a U.N. climate conference in Poland on protecting the world’s forests are fading, prompting environmentalists to appeal for an extra push for a deal this week.

For the Miami Dolphins, the improbable has become awfully hard to ignore.

The financial crisis has hit Britons’ hopes for early retirement.

Hopes for a power-sharing government in Zimbabwe are doomed because President Robert Mugabe’s party has unleashed a new wave of violence against opposition members, the opposition charged Thursday.

Lula Cooper expects the tears to flow if Barack Obama becomes the first black president. But she’s not breaking out the tissues just yet.

Mike Holmgren’s hopes of avoiding the second 1-5 start of his 17-year coaching career rest upon a backup quarterback who has a sore leg and will make his first start in two years.

The short, catchy film commissioned by the Chinese government was designed to plant a new, positive image of China in foreigners’ minds for the Beijing Olympics.