COMPANIES

Honeywell's (HON.N) car parts business expects to post profits in 2009 and 2010, unlike many of its rivals, thanks to a growing demand for its efficiency-increasing turbo chargers, the unit's head told Reuters.

Swedish automaker Saab expects a positive outcome from the negotiations aimed at securing $600 million in loans from the European Investment Bank, its chief executive said on Tuesday.

Ford Motor Co (F.N) is on track to have cut structural costs by up to $15 billion since 2005, but has room to make further reductions, the automaker's chief financial officer said on Wednesday.

Ford Motor Co (F.N) will produce a seven-seat minivan-like vehicle built on a stretched compact car platform in North America beginning in late 2011, the automaker said on Tuesday.

Three of London's top rainmakers are set to square up against a superstar of the 1980s merger era if the looming takeover battle between Kraft and Cadbury ignites.

Ford Motor Co (F.N) is asking European governments to keep incentives for consumers to scrap old cars because demand remains very weak and an abrupt suspension of the programs could lead to another sharp decline in sales, the head of Ford Europe said on Tuesday.

The head of Royal Bank of Canada, Canada's largest bank, said on Wednesday the bank's operating environment is recovering and its strong capital base could allow it to acquire assets as other banks shrink.

Brazilian real estate developer PDG Realty plans a primary offering of 56 million new shares to raise an estimated 775.6 million reais ($430 million), the company said in a regulatory filing on Wednesday.

Japan's NEC Electronics Corp will absorb Renesas Technology Corp after raising a total 200 billion yen ($2.2 billion) from their parent firms, which could smooth the way for the government to also extend aid to the loss-making chipmakers.

Medical products maker Baxter International Inc said on Wednesday it expects to increase annual profits 11 percent to 13 percent on average over the next five years, even as it boosts investment into research.

Carlyle Group and Taiwan Mobile struck a $1 billion deal on Wednesday, with Carlyle taking a big chunk of the telecommunications group in a sign the private equity firm has faith in the island's economy.

Greed -- not green -- drives sales of small, environmentally friendly cars, a top industry executive said on Tuesday.

Russian regional fixed-to-mobile telecom operator UralSvyazInform said on Wednesday its first-half net profit fell 2 percent due to higher financial expenses and foreign exchange losses.

Automakers would be required to gradually increase fuel efficiency under a landmark U.S. government proposal that raises the fleet-wide average to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016 and regulates tailpipe emissions for the first time.

Indian state-run telecoms firm Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) has bid for Millicom's Sri Lankan operations, the chairman of the Indian firm said on Wednesday.

The European car industry could face a further shake-up with Asian companies pouncing on the chance to buy assets as China's Beijing Automotive Industry Holdings has done with Swedish car maker Saab.

Canadian manufacturing sales rose in July at their fastest pace in 12 years after some automakers switched assembly lines back on after extended shutdowns and demand for primary metals rose sharply.

Italy's Fiat (FIA.MI) can reach its target of selling between 5.5 and 6 million vehicles with Chrysler alone but the group still considers renewal of Italy's car sale incentives as vital.

CombiMatrix Corp said it engaged Robert W. Baird as its financial and strategic adviser to help develop and review strategies aimed at unlocking shareholder value.

Goldman Sachs downgraded General Mills Inc to neutral and removed the stock from its Americas buy list, saying revenue growth at the food company could moderate and no longer outshine peers.

Harrah's Entertainment, one of the world's largest casino operators, bought $140 million of the debt related to the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter.

Chrysler Group LLC will present a five-year business plan by the end of November that outlines numbers and the path out of two years of difficulties, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

Geely Automotive (0175.HK), the Chinese carmaker whose parent is eyeing Ford's (F.N) Volvo unit, said it was considering a convertible bond issue, but added that the move is unrelated to the parent company's previously disclosed interest in the Ford unit.

UAL Corp, parent of United Airlines, said it expects to be in full compliance with its credit facility covenants in the third quarter and has liquidity initiatives on tap for the fourth quarter.

Demand for U.S. home loans fell as fixed mortgage rates rose last week in a banking period shortened by the Labor Day holiday, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday.

Some of the world's largest commercial real estate service companies are turning to online auctions to sell property and debt to help kick-start the stalled U.S. commercial real estate market.

The 63rd International Motor Show (IAA 2009) will officially opened by German Chancellor Merkel on September 17 and last for ten days amid the global economic downturn that has hit the automotive industry hard.

The European Commission may force Lloyds Banking Group to sell off all or part of its Halifax branch network as compensation for the billions of pounds of state aid the group has received, the London Times reported.

Citibank NA and Citigroup Funding Inc, units of Citigroup Inc, on Tuesday jointly sold $5.0 billion of debt in a three-part sale, said IFR, a Thomson Reuters service.