Economic News
German Investor Confidence Steadies
October 16, 2007 6:30 am | by Geir Moulson, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsThe steady numbers, after four months of declines, 'indicate that the most pressing downward corrections following the crisis on the financial markets seem to have come to an end.'
Study: Rise In R & D Spending Matches Sales Growth
October 16, 2007 6:21 am | by Edited by Amy Radishofski, Staff Reporter | News | CommentsBooz Allen study of 1,000 corporations says R&D spending rose 10 percent in 2006 to $447 billion, with North American companies seeing the largest increase.
Report: China FAW Group Auto Sales Increase
October 16, 2007 6:00 am | News | CommentsSales jump to more than 1 million units for the state-owned car maker — one of China's largest auto manufacturers.
Fiat Working With Russia's Largest Car Maker
October 16, 2007 5:44 am | News | CommentsMemorandum of understanding between Italy's Fiat and OAO AvtoVAZ is the latest move in the Italian company's push to seek industrial alliances.
Government Incentives Save Pa. Trailer Plant
October 16, 2007 5:37 am | News | CommentsState, county and local officials helped new owner put together an incentive deal to buy International Trailers Inc. plant for $2.3 million.
Wisconsin Crane Manufacturer Plans Expansion
October 16, 2007 5:31 am | News | CommentsManitowoc Crane's $25 million expansion project expected to add about 70 jobs and help the company meet increasing demand.
Boeing Gets $1.5 Billion Jet Airways Order
October 16, 2007 5:10 am | News | CommentsIndian carrier purchases 20 short to medium-range 737s, Boeing's best-selling airplane.
AARP Urging More 401(k) Help From Employers
October 15, 2007 11:57 am | by Doug Gross, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsTwelve states the target of group's campaign calling on employers to automatically enroll employees to avoid a coming retirement crisis.
Local UAW Leaders Approve Tentative Chrysler Contract
October 15, 2007 11:05 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsChrysler workers would see gains of $10,235 over the life of the agreement; automaker would contribute $10.3 billion toward the creation of a union-run trust for retiree health care.
GM-UAW Contract Transfers $46.7B In Health Care Costs
October 15, 2007 6:02 am | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsAgreement includes a company-funded, union-run trust called Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association and must be approved by federal courts.
China Pressured On Open Market Promises
October 15, 2007 5:56 am | by Bradley S. Klapper, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsUnited States, European Union and Japan demanded answers from China at WTO review meeting on its failures to open up markets to greater foreign competition.
Ravenswood Plant Closing
October 15, 2007 5:42 am | News | CommentsPlant is expected to close Nov. 9; Ravenswood Specialty Services Inc. makes nylon raw material and a substance called Minlon.
FDA Drug Research Center Speeding To Launch
October 15, 2007 5:32 am | by Matthew Perrone, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsReagan-Udall Foundation an ambitious undertaking that puts regulators and companies in a relationship unlike that of any other industry.
China Creating Virtual World To Boost E-Commerce
October 15, 2007 5:26 am | by Rachel Konrad, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsBeijing Cyber Recreation District's goal is to provide direct links between tens of thousands of Chinese manufacturers and millions of individual customers around the world.
ArcelorMittal Buys Chinese Steel Wire Company Stake
October 15, 2007 5:18 am | News | CommentsWorld's largest steel maker purchases 90 percent of Rongcheng Chengshan Steelcord for $26.6 million; China is the largest steelcord wire market.
Collins & Aikman To Close
October 15, 2007 5:03 am | by David N. Goodman, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsAuto supplier closing after completing the sale of its last major operations to private equity group amid downturn in the U.S. auto industry.
Alcoa To Supply Parts For Stealth Fighter Jets
October 12, 2007 12:30 pm | by Daniel Lovering, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsAluminum maker awarded $360 million contract by Lockheed Martin Corp. to supply alloy aluminum die forgings for the F-35 Lightning II fighter jet.
Mulally: UAW Deal Will Help Ford Compete
October 12, 2007 11:10 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | CommentsFord's chief executive says the main planks of the United Auto Workers union's deals with General Motors and Chrysler will help Ford Motor Co. become more competitive.
Scania Wins Singapore Bus Order
October 12, 2007 11:02 am | News | CommentsSwedish truckmaker won its largest bus and coach order to date in Asia, selling 500 city buses to public transport company SBS Transit in Singapore for an undisclosed price.
Sales Soar For Alternatives To Chinese Toys
October 12, 2007 11:01 am | by Rachel Konrad, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsAs consumers look for alternatives to recalled Chinese-made toys, dozens of small toy companies are struggling to meet surging demand; some report online sales up as much as fivefold.
Samsung's Spending Boosts Chip Equipment Vendors
October 12, 2007 11:00 am | News | CommentsSamsung Electronic Co.'s surprise announcement it was boosting capital spending on semiconductor production by about $1.2 billion sent shares of chip manufacturing equipment makers higher.
Auto Demand Spurs Retail Sales Gain
October 12, 2007 6:15 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsStrong car sales offset weak demand for clothing; retail sales increase of 0.6 percent was double what economists were expecting.
China's Trade Surplus Swelled In September
October 12, 2007 5:49 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | CommentsSome American lawmakers are pressing for sanctions if Beijing fails to take faster action to ease currency controls that they say are fueling the trade gap.
ConAgra Recalling All Pot Pies
October 12, 2007 5:43 am | by Anna Jo Bratton, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsCompany spokeswoman said the decision to recall the pies wasn't based on new information, but 'an abundance of caution.'
Wholesale Prices Jumped In September
October 12, 2007 5:42 am | News | CommentsIncrease of 1.1 percent — more than double what analysts were expecting — reflects higher food and energy costs.
