PITTSBURGH — A bipartisan group of a dozen Western Pennsylvania politicians sent a letter Wednesday urging the leaders of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Highmark, Inc. to settle their ongoing contract dispute.

Lawmakers announced plans for hearings by the state House Insurance Committee and Senate Banking and Insurance Committee.

UPMC ended negotiations with Highmark earlier this year, citing the insurer's intent to compete with UPMC as a provider. The current contract expires June 30, 2012, with a one-year run-out period to follow. After that, Highmark members would have access to UPMC hospitals on an out-of-network basis. Those with basic Medicare coverage through Highmark would not be affected.

NEW YORK — General Electric Co. says earnings grew 21 percent in the second quarter as its lending arm continued to recover from the recession.The industrial and financial giant reported income of $3.76 billion, or 35 cents per share, for the three months ended June 30. That compares with $3.11 billion, or 28 cents per share, for the same part of last year. Revenue fell 4 percent $35.6 billion.The results beat Wall Street estimates for 32 cents per share on revenue of $34.7 billion, according to FactSet.

SINGAPORE — Oil prices rose toward $100 a barrel today in Asia after European leaders reached an aid deal aimed at stanching Greece's financial crisis.Benchmark oil for September delivery was up 53 cents to $99.66 a barrel at late afternoon Singapore time in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Crude rose 73 cents to settle at $99.13 on Thursday.In London, Brent crude rose 45 cents to $117.96 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange.European officials agreed to give Greece a second rescue package worth $155 billion at an emergency meeting in Brussels on Thursday.