car sale

It's still hard to diagnose how the overall economy will fare in 2011. But the signs for at least one area all seem to be pointing up: car sales. Analysts predict the number of vehicles sold next year will rise 10% to 23% above that of 2010.

News that could affect stock prices today: Kraft's Cadbury bid gets slim support from shareholders; Google releases its Nexus One smart phone; Ford, Toyota, Honda reported improved December sales; retailers saw strong finish to the year.