TOYOTA

Global carmakers reported robust sales growth in August, indicating improving consumer sentiment and demand by small businesses and contractors. Companies including Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), General Motors Company (NYSE: GM), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) and Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) all reported major gains.

Matt Kenseth has reportedly come to the conclusion that he no longer wants to be a part of the Roush Fenway Racing Team. The winner of the NASCAR Daytona 500 confirmed on Tuesday that he would be moving to Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the 2012-13 season.

Global automakers report August U.S. car sales, Tuesday. Follow the blog for the latest updates from Chrysler, Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), General Motors Company (NYSE: GM), Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo: 7201), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC), Volkswagen AG (Frankfurt: VOW) and Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM).

The Los Angeles Police Department is searching for Hollywood film producer Brian Gerber, who has been missing for two days.

Several passengers who witnessed Tony Scott's tragic jump off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles are shopping around video of the fatal leap. While TMZ has reportedly seen the footage, the Thirty Mile Zone entertainment news outlet opted to steer clear of the potentially controversial video and not purchase the material.

A source close Tony Scott told ABC News on Monday that the 68-year-old director had inoperable brain cancer. The report has not been confirmed by authorities, and so far Scott?s family is not commenting.

Tony Scott's tragic jump off the Vincent Thomas Bridge in Los Angeles County was reportedly witnessed by a group of passengers on a harbor cruise. According to TMZ, some of those passengers took photos and shot video.

Tony Scott, the famed Hollywood film director responsible for movies such as "Top Gun" and "Beverly Hills Cop II," among many other blockbusters, jumped to his death on Sunday off a Los Angeles bridge.

Amid constant political caterwauling about the demise of American manufacturing, Japanese automakers like Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM), Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) and Nissan Motor Co. (Tokyo: 7201) are gradually bringing manufacturing jobs to North America by building new factories and adding extra shifts to meet resurgent demand in the U.S. automotive market.

Asian markets gained this week on buoyed investor confidence with indications of an improving U.S. economy and the hopes of an announcement of stimulus measures by China to regain the economic growth momentum.

Keeping up with the Joneses can mean buying best-value vehicles for some of the wealthiest U.S. consumers.

Most of the Asian markets rose Thursday as hopes for monetary easing measures to be announced by China grew following reports that the country's inflation slowed down in July compared to the previous month.

WWE Friday Night SmackDown this week had scheduled a World Heavyweight Title match between Champion Sheamus and Ablerto Del Rio, but it never began. The losing streak of the Intercontinental Champion continued, and new number one contenders for the Tag Titles were determined.

Most of the Asian markets rose Tuesday as investor sentiment turned positive amid hopes that Germany will step up measures to alleviate the debt burden lingering over the euro zone.

If a Los Angeles woman is telling the truth, then actress Amanda Bynes has once again found herself in trouble with the law over a hit and run. Bynes has been accused of not one, not two, but a whopping three hit and run incidents within the past three months.

Asian stock markets rallied Monday as better-than-expected jobs data from the U.S. and optimism at European action to boost the faltering regional economy buoyed sentiment.

Each week, we pick the biggest, most dramatic, or most captivating winners and losers in the world of money and business. Here are the winners and losers for July 29-Aug. 4.

Toyota has announced a voluntary safety recall on certain RAV4s and 2010 Lexus HS 250hs that were sold in the United States, the U.S. arm of Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) said in a news release. Find out here if your Toyota or Lexus is part of the recall.

Asian stock markets declined Thursday as investors awaited the European Central Bank (ECB) meeting later in the day after Federal Reserve did not offer any new monetary measures overnight.

Toyota Motor Corporation (NYSE: TM) reported on Wednesday July U.S. car sales up 26.1 percent to 164,898 as the company continued to recover from last year's natural disasters.

Japan's big three, Nissan, Toyota and Honda gained big in sales while Ford and GM had lackluster showings.