Toyota recalls

Toyota has sold 3 million hybrid vehicles since launching the Prius in 1997.

Chinese investors returning from the New Year holiday were greeted by a 25 basis point hike in interest rates. The Shanghai Composite Index lost 0.9%, in Hong Kong the Hang Seng Index fell 1.4%, and in Japan the Nikkei 225 Index declined 0.2%.

The world's largest automaker is looking to reduce managerial staff at its sales headquarters in Torrance, Calif., by offering workers a buyout.

Last year's massive recalls -- and the resulting legal fallout -- have given Toyota's reputation a beating, cutting into its sales. But the company can't blame all of its problems on the recalls. Analysts also point to another issue: A lack of compelling new models.

Toyota recalls in 2010 drove complaints to the The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As of Dec. 14th, the agency reported that it had received more than 64,000 complaints. Auto buying website Edmunds.com calculates that it was probably closer to 40,000 when you remove duplicate...

A U.S. District Court judge will not dismiss allegations against Toyota for problems related to sudden unintended acceleration in certain car models, as the automaker had hoped.

It's suffered massive recalls and a valuable yen, but Toyota is still selling strong. The company Friday reported a second-quarter profit that more than quadrupled to $1.2 billion on sales of $59.5 billion.

It's been a rough year for those in the branding business at big corporations. SEC probes, massive product recalls and one monstrous oil spill have taken a toll on the reputations -- and stock prices -- of some major companies. Here are 10 of the biggest losers so far.

In Asia Monday, Japan's Nikkei 225 Index slid 0.8% to 10,013. Markets in China and Hong Kong were closed in celebration of Chinese New Year.

Toyota released a fix for its recalled vehicles with problematic accelerators -- a small steel reinforcement bar that will be installed to reduce surface tension and stop the accelerator from sticking. However, Toyota owners are asked to wait for their certified letter from Toyota in the mail...