Shareholder Urges Smithfield Breakup Over Buyout
A big shareholder pushes Smithfield Foods to split itself up and offer itself to other bidders, rather than proceed with a takeover by a Chinese firm.
manufacturing
Factory Output Inches Up in May
U.S. factory output barely increased in May after two months of declines, a sign that manufacturing is providing little support for the economy.
Business Inventories Rise in April, But Sales Weaken
Business inventories rose in April, but goods took longer to sell, meaning businesses could slow the pace of stock accumulation to prevent an unwanted surplus of merchandise.
India's Apollo Bids $2.5B for No. 2 U.S. Tire Maker, Cooper
India's Apollo Tyres agrees to buy U.S.-based Cooper Tire for about $2.5 billion in a deal that would make Apollo the world's seventh-largest tire maker.
Wholesale Inventories Rise Mildly as Manufacturers Hedge
U.S. wholesalers increased their stockpiles in April and their sales rebounded from a big decline in March, positive signs for economic growth.
U.S. Auto Industry Is Revving Up for a Hiring Spree
The U.S. auto industry is about to go on a hiring spree as car makers and parts suppliers race to find workers to build the next generation of vehicles.
Manufacturing Growth Crawls, and Economic Recovery Stalls
Four new manufacturing reports released this week suggest there are cracks at the foundation of the economic recovery.
Meager Rise in Factory Orders Signals Manufacturing Slowdown
New orders for U.S. factory goods rose in April, but not enough to reverse the prior month's plunge, adding to signs of a slowdown in manufacturing activity.
May Auto Sales Bolster U.S. Economy
Higher discounts at some automakers, rising pickup truck sales and increasing consumer confidence pushed up car sales in May, giving the overall economy a shot in the arm.
Durable Goods Orders Rise Sharply in April
Orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods rose more than expected in April, a sign of resilience in the factory sector.
Detroit Automakers Cutting Back on Summer Factory Shutdowns
Detroit's automakers are largely forgoing traditional two-week summer breaks at their factories and speeding up production to meet buyers' demand for new cars and trucks.
Obama: Congress Needs to Focus on Job Creation
Obama pushes Washington lawmakers to focus on job creation during a trip to Baltimore to visit a manufacturer of pumping and digging equipment.
GM Shares Top Level Not Seen Since 2011
Shares of General Motors reached an important milestone on Friday, topping their initial public offering price of $33 for the first time in more than two years.
Economy Shrugging off Spring Slowdown, Reports Suggest
U.S. consumer sentiment rebounded in early May to the highest level in nearly six years as Americans felt better about their financial and economic prospects.
U.S. Factory Output Sees Broad Decline in April
U.S. factories cut back sharply on production in April, as auto companies cranked out fewer cars and most other industries reduced output.
Business Inventories Flat in March; Sales Down Sharply
U.S. business inventories were unchanged in March for a second straight month, while business sales fell the most since June.
Obama Presses Middle-Class Jobs Agenda in Texas
President Obama resurrected his jobs proposals Thursday, advancing modest initiatives as he pushed for action on more ambitious efforts that face resistance from Republicans.
Toyota's Comeback Gains Momentum
Toyota's quarterly profit more than doubled in its latest quarter as cost cuts and better sales worked with a weakening yen to add momentum to the automaker's comeback.
Subaru to Expand Indiana Factory, Add 900 Jobs
Subaru said Wednesday it is investing $400 million to expand its Indiana factory and will add 900 workers to build the Impreza small car there in 2016.
U.S. Factory Orders Fell Sharply in March
Orders to U.S. factories fell in March by the largest amount in seven months but a key category that signals business investment plans managed a small increase.
GM Profit Hit by Lower North American Earnings
General Motors' net income fell 14 percent to $865 million in the first quarter, weighed down by losses in Europe and weaker earnings in North America.
Ford Adding 2,000 Workers at Missouri Truck Plant
Ford says it's adding 2,000 workers to a plant in Missouri that makes the F-150 pickup because of surging U.S. truck demand.
April Factory Activity Weakest in 6 Months as Orders Fall
Manufacturing growth pulled back to its slowest pace in six months in April as new orders and employment cooled, the latest signal the economy has hit a soft spot.
Collapsed Building Owner's Property to be Seized
A top court in Bangladesh asked the government Tuesday to "immediately" confiscate the property of the owner of a building that collapsed last week.
Honda's Quarterly Profit Picks Up Despite Losses in China
Honda's fiscal fourth quarter profit rose nearly 6 percent as the Japanese automaker's recovery from floods in Thailand the previous year offset recent sales losses in China.
Durable Goods Orders Plunge in March as Factories Slow
Orders for long-lasting U.S. factory goods fell in March by the most in seven months, reflecting little growth in orders that signal future business investment.
Boeing's Earnings Unbowed by Dreamliner Battery Crisis
Boeing posted strong first-quarter results on Wednesday that handily beat analyst estimates and showed little impact from the 787 Dreamliner crisis.
Ford Earnings Jump Driven by Strong Truck and Fusion Sales
Ford reported better-than-expected first quarter earnings thanks in part to brisk sales of its Ford Fusion family sedan, which won AOL Autos Car of the Year honors for 2012.
Toyota Maintains Crown as World's Best-Selling Automaker
Toyota held onto its status as the world's top-selling automaker in the first quarter of this year, although the three-way race with GM and Volkswagen is proving tight.
Caterpillar Forecasts Smaller Profit on Mining Slowdown
Caterpillar says its first-quarter net income shrank and it predicted smaller 2013 sales and profits because its mining business is slowing down.