ford motor company

2012 Election: Which Industries Won When Obama Did

The election is over, and now, the many investors who were keeping a close eye on the polls know what they're getting (somewhat) in terms of the federal government for the next few years. Here's a look at 21 economic sectors, and what a second Obama term will mean for each of them.

GM Profits Beat Estimates as Favorable Signs Appear

General Motors on Wednesday reported a third-quarter profit that exceeded analyst expectations by a wide margin. GM's profit was less than it turned in a year ago, with earnings hurt by ongoing losses in Europe. But elsewhere, its business is showing strong signs for the future.

Siruis XM Satellite Radio Turns Up the Volume for Investors

Hurricane Sandy may have closed the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange Monday, and possibly longer, but trading will continue on the Big Board electronically, and that means there's still stocks worth watching: Sirius XM Radio, for example.

GM's Mickey Mouse Plan to Boost Car Sales: Be More Like Disney

It has long been clear that GM would have to get creative to win back customers. Decades of shoddy cars drove off GM loyalists, and just as its cars started to get better, the economy tanked. But now GM has a plan to lure you back, and it involves a lot of help from Disney.

What If Henry Ford Ran Walmart?

Walmart employees across the country are picketing their employer right now, asking to be paid living wages and to be given decent health care coverage. But here's a surprise: History shows that if Walmart gave them those things, it could be great for its bottom line. Just ask Henry Ford.

What's Behind Rising Auto Sales? Cheap Financing

Want a cheap car loan? How about a free one? Believe it or not, more and more car buyers are being offered 0% interest loans, and almost everyone else can now get cheap financing -- even folks with less-than-perfect credit.

Is the Electric Car Revolution Running Out of Juice?

Electric car sales are nowhere near what the auto industry -- or Washington -- hoped they'd be by now, though Tesla Motors' hot Model S sedan doing great, and the the Chevy Volt is finally getting some traction. But is the electric revolution stalled, or just accelerating too slowly?

Pop Quiz: What Did Washington's Bailout Bonanza Buy for America?

The government's Great Recession bailouts are one of the hot topics of debate this election. But let's skip the rhetoric and run the numbers. If you think you know the facts about the bailouts, or if you're just curious, take a peek at our bailout quiz.

Dear American Companies: Here's How to Fix the Economy

In 1914, a business executive named Henry Ford did a startling thing: He announced that he was going to more than double the wages he was paying his employees. The country was as shocked by this then as it would be today.

Uncle Sam's GM Investment Is Still Coming Up Short

The Treasury says it expects to lose more than $25 billion on its bailout of the auto industry -- mostly on its GM investment. But we've also been told GM paid back the Feds. How does this add up, and what has to happen for taxpayers to get their money back?

FedEx Delivers Bad News on the U.S. Economy

On Monday, FedEx delivered some rough news to its employees: With profits down and cargo volume dropping, the company is going to tighten its belt and jettison some crewmen. Viewed in isolation, this might not seem like big news. But in context, it's a bad sign for for the U.S. economy.

How Ford Can Export Its Turnaround Magic to Europe

The second quarter brought good news and bad news for auto icon Ford. The good? Ford's U.S. sales and profits continued to be strong. The bad: Overall profits were down 57% because of the challenges it faces overseas.