WASHINGTON — Despite safety concerns from parents, consumer groups and politicians, a chemical used in baby bottles, canned food and other items is not dangerous, federal regulators said Friday.

DuPont posted higher-than-expected earnings as strong demand for its corn and soybean seeds offset weakness in other areas.

Dow sa id that it was raising prices for the second time in a month, as well as introducing freight surcharges and reducing production to offset ever-rising energycosts.

Hexion Specialty Chemicals, a chemical maker owned by the buyout firm Apollo Management, sued the Huntsman Corporation to end their $10.6 billion merger.

Companies that make hard goods using raw materials derived from oil are seeing their costs skyrocket and pondering difficult choices.

Canada’s decision to label as toxic a chemical that is used to make a popular form of plastic has created headaches for some bottle makers but it may prove a bonanza for others.