Business Wire In Europe, 'cash for clunkers' drives sales 8.8.2009 : 1:20 AM For months, European car buyers have been junking clunkers for cash, boosting automakers sales — but making experts fear that once the government handouts stop, the struggling car industry will return to a slump no pile of cash can conquer. A glance at Europe's 'cash-for-clunkers' programs 8.8.2009 : 1:10 AM 008 when French President Nicolas Sarkozy unveiled a â?¬26 billion ($37.36 billion) stimulus plan to help the country ward off a recession. Regulators close 3 banks in Fla., Ore.; total 72 8.7.2009 : 10:38 PM Regulators on Friday shut down two banks in Florida and one in Oregon, bringing to 72 the number of federally insured banks to fail this year under the weight of the weak economy and rising loan losses. Judge to return from appellate court for Dole case 8.7.2009 : 9:18 PM The judge who ruled there was massive fraud in a lawsuit against Dole Foods will return from her new appellate court assignment to preside over further proceedings in the contentious litigation. New GM worries about regaining consumer confidence 8.7.2009 : 8:39 PM The new General Motors Co. said Friday it was worried about regaining consumer confidence following its exit from Chapter 11, and that its sales won't improve in 2009 as U.S. economic troubles continue. AP Enterprise: Airspeed systems failed on US jets 8.7.2009 : 8:36 PM On at least a dozen recent flights by U.S. jetliners, malfunctioning equipment made it impossible for pilots to know how fast they were flying, federal investigators have discovered. A similar breakdown is believed to have played a role in the Air France crash into the Atlantic that killed all 228 people aboard in June. Berkshire Hathaway's 2Q profit jumps 14 percent 8.7.2009 : 8:21 PM Warren Buffett's company on Friday reported a 14 percent jump in second-quarter profit as the improving stock market boosted the value of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.'s derivative contracts but the recession continued to weigh on its operating businesses. Agriculture prices mostly lower, livestock mixed 8.7.2009 : 7:52 PM Agriculture futures were mostly lower Friday on the Chicago Board of Trade. TVA plan for Ala. nuclear plant drops to 1 reactor 8.7.2009 : 7:30 PM The Tennessee Valley Authority, faced with falling electric sales and rising costs from cleaning up a massive coal ash spill in Tennessee, on Friday trimmed plans for a potential four-unit nuclear plant in northeast Alabama to one reactor. Former Jack Daniel's master distiller dies at 69 8.7.2009 : 7:16 PM Jimmy Bedford, the slender and silver-haired former master distiller of the Jack Daniel's whiskey during a 40-year career with the company, died Friday. He was 69. Correction: GMAC earnings story 8.7.2009 : 7:09 PM In an Aug. 4 story about GMAC Inc., The Associated Press reported erroneously the percentage change and figures for the company's second-quarter revenue. GMAC's net revenue fell 22 percent to $1.03 billion from $1.32 billion, not 28 percent to $1.27 billion from $1.76 billion. Feds: Madoff financial exec to plead guilty in NY 8.7.2009 : 7:06 PM Federal prosecutors say they expect the chief financial officer for disgraced financier Bernard Madoff to plead guilty next week to unspecified charges. BC-Weekly percent leaders, 8.7.2009 : 6:48 PM BC-NASDAQ Wkly Summary 8.7.2009 : 6:43 PM Treasury bond market at a glance 8.7.2009 : 6:25 PM 0-year note and 30-year bond are per $1,000 invested: Treasurys fall on drop in unemployment rate 8.7.2009 : 6:23 PM Investors no longer interested in a safe bet sold off Treasurys Friday after the government said the economy lost fewer jobs last month. BC-Investing Companies 8.7.2009 : 6:18 PM Friday's Investors finally find good news on unemployment 8.7.2009 : 6:01 PM The economy's most vexing problem, unemployment, is showing the first signs of easing. And Wall Street is celebrating. How the major stock indexes fared on Friday 8.7.2009 : 5:59 PM percent Friday after the government said the nation's unemployment rate unexpectedly fell in July for the first time in 15 months and that employers cut fewer jobs. Freddie Mac's loss narrows, eschews federal aid 8.7.2009 : 5:53 PM Freddie Mac escaped the second fiscal quarter without asking the government for any new financial aid, but still expects to need more federal help in the future. Business Highlights 8.7.2009 : 5:47 PM It's the clearest sign yet the recession is finally ending: Employers laid off far fewer workers in July, the jobless rate dipped for the first time in 15 months and workers' hours and pay edged upward. BC-Markets-At-A-Glance 8.7.2009 : 5:33 PM Markets at a glance Friday Gold slips on stronger dollar, other metals rise 8.7.2009 : 5:32 PM A surprisingly strong employment report sent the dollar rising and gold prices falling Friday, while other metals advanced as investors bet that a stronger U.S. economy will mean a jump in demand for basic materials. BC-Index fut. 8.7.2009 : 5:31 PM Stock index futures Friday: BC-Rice CBOT 8.7.2009 : 5:31 PM Rough rice futures on the Chicago Board of Trade Fri.: Nasdaq SUMMARY 8.7.2009 : 5:31 PM Most active Nasdaq issues. BC-Wall Street-Glance 8.7.2009 : 5:30 PM Low: 9,258.45 BC-Indexes Daily 8.7.2009 : 5:18 PM Stock indexes Friday BC-NYSE Closing Indexes,0070 8.7.2009 : 5:18 PM Closing New Stock Exchange Indexes: Dealers push new program to boost trade-in values 8.7.2009 : 5:18 PM A group of car and truck dealers have banded together to offer their own sales incentives in hopes of getting drivers who don't qualify for the "cash-for-clunkers" program to buy vehicles. CIT draws down credit, suspends preferred divs 8.7.2009 : 5:11 PM Commercial lender CIT Group Inc., which is trying to avoid filing for bankruptcy protection, said Friday that it has received the remaining $1 billion available under a $3 billion credit agreement and is suspending preferred dividend payments. Retrial set for 2 Merrill Lynch execs 8.7.2009 : 5:05 PM Two former Merrill Lynch&Co. executives whose 2004 Enron-related fraud and conspiracy convictions were overturned are set to be retried next year, a federal judge ordered Friday. AIG reports 2Q profit, first since 2007 8.7.2009 : 5:03 PM 007 — and warned that it still has plenty of repair work to do. BC-NYSE Indexes,0052 8.7.2009 : 4:57 PM Closing New York Stock Exchange Index: Finnair reports 2Q net loss of â?¬26 million 8.7.2009 : 4:53 PM Finnair PLC on Friday saw a second-quarter net loss of â?¬26 million ($37 million) as the airline's chief executive announced that he is resigning in what he called "crisis" conditions. Securitas Q2 net up 6.7 percent 8.7.2009 : 4:52 PM Swedish security firm Securitas AB on Friday reported a 6.7 percent increase in second-quarter net profits, in part thanks to stronger sales, and said it aims to explore acquisition opportunities in North America as they arise. BMW, Daimler see July deliveries decline 8.7.2009 : 4:49 PM Germany's Daimler AG and BMW AG said Friday that their worldwide car sales fell by more than 10 percent in July as the global economic downturn curbed demand for luxury autos. Allianz 2Q net profit up 21 pct to â?¬1.9 billion 8.7.2009 : 4:45 PM German insurer Allianz SE said Friday its second quarter net profit rose 21 percent as its life and health insurance business improved and said it was adjusting to the "new normal" of reduced returns. Downbeat RBS earns temper banking sector optimism 8.7.2009 : 4:42 PM A downbeat report from the Royal Bank of Scotland PLC on Friday clouded a week of earnings updates that started with suggestions that the country's lenders were over the worst of the financial crisis — almost exactly two years after the credit squeeze took hold. Figures on government spending and debt 8.7.2009 : 4:39 PM Figures on government spending and debt (last six digits are eliminated). The government's fiscal year runs Oct. 1 through Sept. 30.

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