COMPANIES

Goldman Sachs Group has cut the $7.5 billion fundraising target for its second infrastructure fund by more than half after failing to secure enough commitments.

Ford Motor Co posted a 43 percent surge in its February U.S. sales on Tuesday, outselling General Motors Co , and also set higher second-quarter production targets for North America.

Weak auto sales for February raised doubts about the pace of U.S. economic recovery as Toyota Motor Corp readied an aggressive new discount program.

General Motors Co on Tuesday posted a nearly 12 percent gain in U.S. February sales, boosted by a doubling in sales to fleet operators and relatively strong demand for newer crossovers like the Chevy Equinox.

Toyota Motor Corp let profits trump decision-making on safety and U.S. regulators failed to aggressively oversee the automaker in the years leading up to recent big recalls, a leading U.S. senator said on Tuesday.

Nissan Motor unveiled its much-awaited low-cost compact car aimed at becoming a major force in the fast-growing segment, targeting global sales of 1 million units with the roll-out of a family of compact cars by 2013.

Swedish automaker Saab would have to sell more than 100,000 cars a year to break even and hopes to sell about half of that in 2010, Chief Executive Jan Jonsson said on Tuesday.

Asian banks including DBS Group have been invited to help underwrite Prudential's $20 billion rights issue.

LyondellBasell has rejected Reliance Industries' offer that values the bankrupt firm at $14.5 billion.

Astellas, the country's second-biggest drugs firm on Monday went hostile with a $3.5 billion offer for U.S.-based OSI Pharmaceuticals.

More homeowners are falling behind on their mortgages, jeopardizing the nascent housing recovery and raising the possibility that home prices have not found their bottom but could instead fall further.

Land & Houses PCL LH.BK, Thailand's biggest home builder, said on Tuesday it expected to report only single-digit growth in net profit in 2010 due to higher costs as government tax breaks expire in March.

The Financial Times has seen a positive trend in advertising sales continue into the current quarter a day after parent Pearson reported forecast-beating results.

Fannie Mae, the largest provider of funding for U.S. residential loans, on Monday said it would purchase up to 200,000 delinquent loans from its mortgage-backed securities in March as it sought to clarify a new policy that has roiled the market.

An Obama administration program aimed at helping homeowners whose homes have declined in value get new loans has been extended another year, a key housing regulator said on Monday.

General Motors has tripled its funding of European arm Opel and cut its request for state aid in a bid to win over European governments and labor.

South Korea's Hyundai Motor Co announced a sharp rise in February sales, benefiting from recall woes at rival Toyota Motor Co.

General Motors Co is recalling 1.3 million compact cars in North America to address a power steering problem that has been linked to 14 crashes and one injury, the company said on Tuesday.

General Motors will discuss making further investments at its European unit Opel, a person familiar with the matter said on Monday.

Carmakers will be keen to show off new green technologies at the Geneva Auto Show, opening this week, as economic uncertainties and waning scrapping schemes make forecasting this year's sales trends difficult.

Italy's Fiat unveils the Alfa Romeo Giulietta at this week's Geneva auto show, and while analysts do not believe the brand is under threat, they say the new hatchback is a test of its revival.

Luxury goods manufacturer Louis Vuitton has sued Hyundai Motor Co, alleging trademark violations over an advertisement in this year's Super Bowl, the most watched television show in U.S. history.

Lions Gate Entertainment Corp said on Monday its board will review activist investor Carl Icahn's unsolicited bid to increase his share in the company.

Astellas Pharma Inc launched a $3.5 billion hostile bid for OSI Pharmaceuticals to gain access to the blockbuster Tarceva cancer drug, in the latest move by a Japanese drugmaker to make inroads in the United States.

Carmakers will be keen to show off new green technologies at the Geneva Auto Show as economic uncertainties and waning scrapping schemes make forecasting sales trends difficult.

Daimler plans a technology cooperation with China's BYD to develop electric vehicles for China, in a sign that the German auto maker is increasingly dependent on China's know-how.

PepsiCo Inc forecast earnings growth at a low-double-digit rate in 2011 and 2012 and said its shift away from independent bottlers in the United States.

PepsiCo (PEP.N) backed its outlook for 2010 and said it saw earnings per share rising at a low double-digit rate on an constant currency basis in 2011 and 2012.

Walgreen Co (WAG.N) is restructuring its health care divisions with one sales force, bringing together various corporate functions that will not affect the company's pharmacy counter operations.