BloggingStocks

Strong December Auto Sales Raise Hopes for 2011

Connie Madon — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Industry, Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Economic Data, Nissan Motors (NSANY)

December is traditionally a slow month for auto sales. Most people are caught up with holiday shopping and tend to put off large purchases.

This year was different. December auto sales were higher for most makers, Toyota being the exception. Here are the numbers by company, as reported by CNNMoney:

Continue reading Strong December Auto Sales Raise Hopes for 2011

Strong December Auto Sales Raise Hopes for 2011 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto Sales Stumbled in September

Connie Madon — Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:40:00 EST

Filed under: Industry, General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Economic Data, Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Sales for most major auto makers were down in September from August, as reported by MSNBC. Ford (F) was the standout with sales up 2%. Here are the numbers for the other companies:

General Motors (GM) sales declined 3%.
Chrysler was up less than 1%.
Toyota (TM) fell less than 1%.
Nissan (NSANY) was down 3%.

Continue reading Auto Sales Stumbled in September

Auto Sales Stumbled in September originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 03 Oct 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan to Sell Electric Car for Less Than $44,300 -- a Bargain?

Mark Fightmaster — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rumors

Nissan (NSANY) is jumping in on the electric car revolution, producing a car called the Leaf. It's an all-electric car that seats five. The good news for Nissan is that this car will face little in the way of competition; no other electric car seats as many passengers. Nissan is planning to make 500,000 of the Leaf in North America, Japan, and Europe by 2012. The company also announced that 56,000 of the Leaf are on order in the United States; but, this could be the number of dealers ordering the car, not individuals. The company also expects this electric car to be a popular choice for a no-emission fleet vehicle (like a taxi).

Continue reading Nissan to Sell Electric Car for Less Than $44,300 -- a Bargain?

Nissan to Sell Electric Car for Less Than $44,300 -- a Bargain? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Auto Sales Surge in December, Capping Dismal Year

Tom Johansmeyer — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)

The auto industry probably doesn't want to look back on 2009. Ignore the rearview mirror; put it in drive and move forward. At least the dismal year ended on a high note. Despite a total sales decline of 21.2%, to 10.4 million units, the industry gets to celebrate a 15.1% increase in sales for the month of December, according to Autodata.

For the Detroit crowd, Ford (F) led the pack, with December sales up almost a third. General Motors (GRM) ticked 5.7% higher, with Chrysler up 3.7% for the month.

Continue reading Auto Sales Surge in December, Capping Dismal Year

Auto Sales Surge in December, Capping Dismal Year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 06 Jan 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford, Nissan and Tesla may receive U.S. auto loans

Mark Fightmaster — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Ford Motor (F), Nissan Motors (NSANY)

The Energy Department is set to lend money to Ford (NYSE: F), Tesla, and Nissan (NASDAQ: NSANY), according to the Associated Press. The report cites anonymous sources, with the official announcement set for today in Dearborn, Michigan.

Reportedly, Ford has asked to receive $5 billion in loans by 2011, although the sources were not certain on how much money the automaker would receive. Nissan's requested amount was undisclosed and Tesla has reportedly asked for $450 million. The loan program the automakers are trying to tap into was approved by Congress last year in order to help car companies and suppliers develop green vehicles and components (such as the advanced battery) and help automakers meet the new fuel-efficiency standards of 35 miles per gallon by 2020.

Continue reading Ford, Nissan and Tesla may receive U.S. auto loans

Ford, Nissan and Tesla may receive U.S. auto loans originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Comfort Zone Investing: Is Ford a buy?

Ted Allrich — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Comfort Zone Investing, Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Ford (NYSE: F) is the last of the "Big" Three standing on its own two feet. Chrysler and General Motors (OTC: GMGMQ) are on crutches supplied by the federal government. While they're both still upright, those crutches are mighty expensive (the government will own 60% of GM when it emerges from bankruptcy).

Speaking of bankruptcy, Chrysler is already on the other side and now a partner with Fiat. That was perhaps the fastest legal action ever seen. Usually bankruptcy takes between 18 months to two years before a new company emerges.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Is Ford a buy?

Comfort Zone Investing: Is Ford a buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Options Update: Honda, Toyota and Nissan volatility low

Paul Foster — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Options

Honda (NYSE: HMC) closed at $25.90. HMC March 2009 U.S. sales decreased 36% compared to March 2008. HMC April option implied volatility of 51 is below its 26-week average of 62, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) closed at $67.90.TM March 2009 U.S. sales decreased 39% compared to March 2008. TM April option implied volatility is at 44, May is at 46; below its 26-week average of 57, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Nissan (NASDAQ: NSANY) closed at $8. NSANY March 2009 U.S. sales decreased 37% compared to March 2008. May option implied volatility of 60 is below its 26-week average of 65, according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Honda, Toyota and Nissan volatility low originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Earnings highlights: Coke, Pepsi, Hasbro, Marriott, Abercrombie, Wells Fargo and others

Trey Thoelcke — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:40:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings Reports, Coca-Cola (KO), PepsiCo (PEP), Diageo plc (DEO), Boeing Co (BA), Abercrombie and Fitch (ANF), Barrick Gold (ABX), Hasbro Inc (HAS), Activision Inc (ATVI), Marriott Intl'A' (MAR), Wells Fargo (WFC), Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

Abercrombie & Fitch Inc. (NYSE: ANF) beat Q4 earnings estimates handily, sending shares higher.
Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ: ATVI) did well in the holiday period but offered weak guidance.
Barclays (NYSE: BCS) one-time gains offset write-downs and said it expects to resume dividend payments.
Boeing Co. (NYSE: BA) shares fell after it announced that it had understated its Q4 and fiscal 2008 loss.
Coca-Cola Co. (NYSE: KO) topped Q4 earnings estimates due in part to volume gain internationally.
Diageo (NYSE: DEO) earnings rose in the first half, but it cut its full-year forecast.
GSI Commerce Inc. (NASDAQ: GSIC) "solid" Q4 results led to an analyst downgrade.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Coke, Pepsi, Hasbro, Marriott, Abercrombie, Wells Fargo and others

Earnings highlights: Coke, Pepsi, Hasbro, Marriott, Abercrombie, Wells Fargo and others originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stocks in the news: PEP, TM, NSANY, ANF, CAL, MSFT, SBUX, RTP, MFE ...

Melly Alazraki — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:10:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings Reports, Deals, Microsoft (MSFT), Apple Inc (AAPL), Starbucks (SBUX), Coca-Cola (KO), PepsiCo (PEP), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Abercrombie and Fitch (ANF), Rio Tinto plc ADS (RIO), Wells Fargo (WFC), Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Stocks are set for a mixed start as investors keep watching -- and waiting for more details -- the different government plans to bailout the financial market, stimulate the economy and aid homeowners. More here: Before the bell: Stocks set for a mixed start as investors watch government's plans

PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) -- Can the Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) rival follow in its competitor's footsteps as it reports earnings today and post results the market is happy with?
Pepsico reported that fourth-quarter profit fell partly on restructuring and impairment charges, but adjusted results were $1.39 billion, or 88 cents per share, inline with analysts' expectations. PEP shares traded nearly 1% higher in premarket trade, despite saying it forecasts pressure from a stronger dollar. PEP shares were some 2.5% higher by 11 am.

Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) will freeze wages, cut pay for factory executives, eliminate bonuses for all salaried employees and offer voluntary redundancy to plant workers in North America for the first time as it widens output cuts to adjust for slumping vehicle demand. TM shares traded lower in premarket action. TM shares declined some about 1.9% by 11 am.

Continue reading Stocks in the news: PEP, TM, NSANY, ANF, CAL, MSFT, SBUX, RTP, MFE ...

Stocks in the news: PEP, TM, NSANY, ANF, CAL, MSFT, SBUX, RTP, MFE ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan (NSANY) job cuts run deep

Michael Fowlkes — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:15:00 EST

Filed under: International Markets, Bad News, Products and Services, Management, Competitive Strategy, Employees, Thailand, Japan, Recession, Nissan Motors (NSANY), Financial Crisis

For employees of Japan's third largest automaker, Nissan Motor Co. (NASDAQ: NSANY), the news today was grim. Nissan announced it will be eliminating a hefty 8.5% of its workforce, or roughly 20,000 jobs.

The news comes at a time when all automakers are struggling to deal with the global recession that continues to keep car buyers off the showroom floors. Nissan said it expects to report its first annual loss in the past nine years.

For the company's most recent quarter, October through December, Nissan reported a $904 million quarterly loss.

Continue reading Nissan (NSANY) job cuts run deep

Nissan (NSANY) job cuts run deep originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stocks in the news: NSANY, BCS, GM, NYX, AMZN, HAS, ADBE, PFE, LDK ...

Melly Alazraki — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:18:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings Reports, Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades, Apple Inc (AAPL), Pfizer (PFE), Amazon.com (AMZN), General Motors (GM), Adobe Systems (ADBE), Corning Inc (GLW), NYSE Euronext (NYX), Lennar Corp'A' (LEN), Hasbro Inc (HAS), Analyst Initiations, Barclays plc ADS (BCS), Trina Solar ADS (TSL), Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Nissan Motor Co. (NASDAQ: NSANY) reported a $904 million quarterly loss and said it expects this year to be its first annual loss in nine years. Nissan is cutting 20,000 jobs, or 8.5% of its workforce. NSANY shares declined over 6.5% in premarket trade.

Barclays PLC (NYSE: BCS) reported Monday that its net profit for 2008 fell just 1% after several major one-off gains helped compensate for over 8 billion pounds ($11.8 billion) of write-downs. The bank's balance sheet, meanwhile, ballooned 67% to 2.05 trillion pounds. Pretax profit for the year dropped 14% to 6.08 billion pounds, well ahead of analyst estimates. Barclays said it will resume dividend payments in the second half of the year. Shares in Barclays soared over 12% in premarket trade.

Continue reading Stocks in the news: NSANY, BCS, GM, NYX, AMZN, HAS, ADBE, PFE, LDK ...

Stocks in the news: NSANY, BCS, GM, NYX, AMZN, HAS, ADBE, PFE, LDK ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 08:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stocks in the news: GM, F, AAPL, PFE, AMZN, BBY, MOS, XOM, GE ... (update)

Melly Alazraki — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:22:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings Reports, Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades, Deals, Apple Inc (AAPL), General Electric (GE), Pfizer (PFE), Amazon.com (AMZN), Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), AT and T (T), Citigroup Inc. (C), Best Buy (BBY), Verizon Communications (VZ), Economic Data

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F), Chrysler and other automakers will report throughout the day December car and truck sales. Overall, sales are expected to decline by 40% with GM sales down 39% and Ford sales down 34% according to Edmunds.com. Chrysler may post a 46% decline in December sales. Also, Nissan Motors (NASDAQ: NSANY) is expected to post a 42% slump, while Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) and Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) are expected to post a 38% decline each. Ford and TM were last traded down 2% in premarket. GM is the only automaker whose stock was trading higher -- over 3% -- by 11:10 am.

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) is expected to unveil new products at Macworld in San Francisco today. While no major breakthroughs or new products are expected to be unveiled -- especially not when compared to the iPhone's unvailing -- there might still be some product improvements and new versions of existing products. The focus though is probably still be the fact that Apple CEO Steve Jobs will not be giving the keynote speech and why that is. [Update: Steve Jobs has sent a letter to the Apple community, explaining he suffers from a hormone imbalance that caused his weight loss. The remedy is simple he says and commits to telling Apple's board if he ever feels he cann't function as CEO.] Following Jobs' announcement AAPL shares gained and were up over 4% by 11:10 am.

Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) CEO Jeff Kindler said in an interview with the Financial Times that the company is willing to buy a large rival. This may trigger a fresh round of mergers within pharmas and put the sector in focus today.

Continue reading Stocks in the news: GM, F, AAPL, PFE, AMZN, BBY, MOS, XOM, GE ... (update)

Stocks in the news: GM, F, AAPL, PFE, AMZN, BBY, MOS, XOM, GE ... (update) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 05 Jan 2009 08:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan (NSANY) makes big battery investment

Brent Archer — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Good news, Japan, Options, Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Nissan Motors (NASDAQ: NSANY - option chain) shares have moved higher today on reports that the company will invest $1.1 billion to make lithium-ion batteries to be used in electric and hybrid cars. This outlay should account for batteries for 200,000 vehicles each year. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on NSANY.

NSANY opened this morning at $7.02. So far today the stock has hit a low of $6.90 and a high of $7.07. As of 12:50, NSANY is trading at $6.96, up 11 cents (1.6%). The chart for NSANY looks neutral and S&P gives NSANY a 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

For a bullish hedged play on this stock, I would consider a June covered call at the $7.50 level. A covered call is an options position that combines the purchase of stock with the sale of call options to hedge risk in case the stock doesn't do what you think but still leverage nice returns. For this particular trade, we will make a 22.0% return in just 6 months as long as NSANY is above $7.50 at June expiration. Nissan would have to fall by more than 11% before we would start to lose money. Learn more about this type of trade here.

NSANY has only barely dipped below $6.15, which is this trade's break-even point, in the past year and has shown support around $6.80 recently.

Brent Archer is an options analyst and writer at Investors Observer.

DISCLOSURE: Mr. Archer owns and/or controls diversified portfolios of long and short stock and option positions that may include holdings in companies he writes about. At publication time, Brent neither owns nor controls positions in NSANY.

Nissan (NSANY) makes big battery investment originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Options Update: Auto manufacturers' volatility elevated; HMC, TM, TTM, NSANY

Paul Foster — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Options, Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Honda (NYSE: HMC) closed at $22.40 Thursday. HMC overall option implied volatility of 92 is above its 26-week average of 42 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Toyota Motor (NYSE: TM) closed at 67.09 Thursday. TM overall option implied volatility of 70 is above its 26-week average of 39 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Tata Motors (NYSE: TTM), an Indian car manufacturer, closed at $4.50 Thursday. TTM overall option implied volatility of 84 is above its 26-week average of 61 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Nissan (NSADQ: NSANY) closed at $8.57 Thursday. NSANY overall option implied volatility of 76 is above its 26-week average of 49 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement.

Option Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com

Options Update: Auto manufacturers' volatility elevated; HMC, TM, TTM, NSANY originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 07 Nov 2008 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Biz: October sales hit 25 year low

Michael Rainey — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:10:00 EST

Filed under: Industry, Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM)

This is part of a weekly series about the auto industry. Record-high oil prices and a global slowdown have contributed to a crisis in the sector, and this column will highlight some of the interesting stories that emerge as that crisis plays out.

Monthly sales figures for the auto industry are enough to make a grown man cry -- especially if that man works for an American car company.

General Motors (NYSE: GM) saw sales fall a whopping 45% in October compared to October 2007. Potential GM partner Chrysler fell 35%, while Ford (NYSE: F) dropped 30%.

Auto sales were down 32% for all manufacturers. If the current sales rate continues, the industry will sell about 10 million fewer cars this year.

There are a number of interesting details in this month's report. For one thing, it looks like GM is in even worse shape than previously thought. Analysts have frequently stated that GM is burning about $1 billion a month, giving it less than a year until it faces a cash crunch crisis. But the astounding drop in sales at GM suggest that the cash crunch might hit sooner than that -- GM may have just a few months before bankruptcy becomes a very real possibility.

Another interesting detail: the SUV love affair is officially dead. Sales of Chevy Suburbans are down 70% year-over year, Tahoes down 77% and Yukons down 76%. And this despite the fact that gas prices fell dramatically during October.

Continue reading Car Biz: October sales hit 25 year low

Car Biz: October sales hit 25 year low originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 04 Nov 2008 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan set to unleash the cheapest new car in the U.S. at under $10,000

Brian White — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST

Filed under: Products and Services, Nissan Motors (NSANY)

Nissan Motors (NASDAQ: NSANY) will unveil a stripped-down version of its Versa subcompact vehicle this month at the lowest price ever for a brand-new car in the U.S. market. The new Versa won't come with power windows or air conditioning, but will retail at $9,990 -- just a few bills below ten grand. The cheapest new vehicle currently being sold in the U.S. is the Hyundai Accent.

Nissan's valiant attempt here is geared towards converting used-car buyers into new-car buyers. It's true that a car shopper can buy a decent used vehicle for $10k that will most likely have air conditioning and more interior space (and more engine power). The Mexican-made Versa will go on sale November 18 and will be priced $3,000 less than any currently sold Versa in the U.S.

Alexander Edwards with Strategic Vision asks the question I'm thinking: "Automakers seem to be trying to do two things: bring in vehicles in the lowest price range while also trying to deliver cars with some level of nobility and class and extras ... the question is, how many people are going to choose a vehicle that doesn't have air conditioning?"

That one single feature could be killer to Nissan's attempt here. Folks will buy cars with a complete lack of features -- except air conditioning. But will shoppers look at used cars with more size and convenience, or a brand new car without any features which will depreciate considerably the moment it's driven off the dealer lot? In the good news segment, the $10,000 Versa will see a fuel efficiency figure of 34 miles per gallon on the highway.

Nissan set to unleash the cheapest new car in the U.S. at under $10,000 originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Before the bell: Stocks to decline; CVX, ERTS, JAVA, BKC, GOOG, YHOO, GM, F, AAPL, INTC

Melly Alazraki — Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:10:00 EST

Filed under: Before the Bell, Earnings Reports, Analyst Reports, Deals, Google (GOOG), Yahoo! (YHOO), Apple Inc (AAPL), Intel (INTC), Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Market Matters, Chevron Corp (CVX), Sun Microsystems (JAVA), Electronic Arts (ERTS), Burger King Hldgs (BKC), Economic Data, Nissan Motors (NSANY)

U.S. stock futures fell Friday morning, after two days of gains and ahead of some economic data that will likely show further economic distress. The economic releases are: the employment cost index for q3, personal income and spending for September, the Chicago manufacturing PMI and the University of Michigan's consumer confidence for October. Global stocks generally declined Friday as oil again dropped below $65 a barrel to around $63.50. Meanwhile, the Bank of Japan cut its benchmark interest rate to 0.3%, which was less than expected, causing the Nikkei to drop by 5%.

Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is due to report this morning, following Exxon Mobil's (NYSE: XOM) record profit reported Thursday.

Burger King (NYSE: BKC) reported first quarter earnings of 38 cents per share, ex-items, below the consensus of 39 cents. Revenues came in at $674 million, versus the consensus of $667.6 million.

Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS) shares dropping 14% in after-hours trading after it posted a wider loss and reduced its annual forecast. The game maker also announced layoffs.

Sun Microsystems Inc. (NASDAQ: JAVA) on Thursday reported a $1.68 billion fiscal first-quarter loss due to charges, but sales also fell more than 7% from a year ago. In all, ex-items, the company would have lost $65 million, or 9 cents a share on revenue of $2.99 billion for the quarter. Shares were down 3% in after-hours.

Continue reading Before the bell: Stocks to decline; CVX, ERTS, JAVA, BKC, GOOG, YHOO, GM, F, AAPL, INTC

Before the bell: Stocks to decline; CVX, ERTS, JAVA, BKC, GOOG, YHOO, GM, F, AAPL, INTC originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 31 Oct 2008 08:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Car Biz: Look out below!

Michael Rainey — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:55:00 EST

Filed under: Industry, Ford Motor (F), General Motors (GM), Financial Crisis

This is part of a weekly series about the car business. The auto industry plays an important role in the global economy, and record-high oil prices and a global slowdown have contributed to a crisis in the sector. This column will highlight some of the interesting stories that emerge as that crisis plays out.

And I thought things looked bad last week (Car Biz: Dark days in Detroit and beyond). The skies do indeed look dark in Detroit and the auto industry as a whole. But now instead of weak sales and slow growth, we are looking at plummeting sales and the very real possibility of bankruptcy and further consolidation throughout the industry.

Yesterday, as Zac Bissonnette noted, General Motors (NYSE: GM) dropped like a stone to a 58-year low. This earlier low point came before the Korean War, when gas cost less than 30 cents a gallon. Looking back, of course, we can see that GM had some great years ahead of it. If only the future looked so bright now.

Today, an S&P analyst quoted on Bloomberg said that the Big Three could face bankruptcy as macroeconomic factors "overwhelm them." This follows yesterday's comment from S&P that debt from GM and Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) may have to be downgraded again, even deeper into junk status.

GM has replied to S&P's comments, saying that while it does indeed face "unprecedented challenges," it does not consider bankruptcy an option at this time. But then again, what else are they going to say?

Continue reading Car Biz: Look out below!

Car Biz: Look out below! originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Before the bell: Futures lower; AIG, TM, WMT down, COST, DNA could gain

Melly Alazraki — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:20:00 EST

Filed under: Before the Bell, Earnings Reports, Deals, Yahoo! (YHOO), Apple Inc (AAPL), Wal-Mart (WMT), Toyota Motor Corp. (TM), Market Matters, Costco Wholesale (COST), Amer Intl Group (AIG), Genentech Inc (DNA), Economic Data, Limited Brands (LTD), Oil, Nissan Motors (NSANY)

U.S. stock futures drifted lower Thursday morning on the heel of another big loss reported by AIG. With reports today that mortgages made in 2007 are going bad at a rapid pace, the blow to the financial system may be even deeper than Wall Street had estimated, and data on June pending home sales could give more information about the recent state of the housing market. Also in focus today will be July same-store sales announced by retailers, which could show a 2.2% gain due to stimulus checks and back-to-school shopping, as well as rate decisions by ECB and BOE. The latter already kept rates the same. Finally, rising oil prices could affect trading as well.

AIG (NYSE: AIG) posted its third straight quarterly loss Wednesday after the close. Analyst believe that this quarter's $5.56 billion recorded loss due to investments related to mortgages could continue in the next few quarters. AIG's results didn't just cause investors to dump the stock, but also caused overall jitters about financials. AIG shares are down over 9% in premarket trading. In Europe, Allianz, Axa, Aegon, three of the biggest insurers, also post lower earnings on asset writedowns.

Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) reported a 28% profit fall in the quarter, 39% drop in operating profit. The company said the strong yen and rising costs of materials for the decline in addition to soft conditions in the U.S. all contributed to these results. While it said it plans to offset the declines by launching new vehicle models and stepping up production of popular models, it's unclear how successful that would be in light of softening economic conditions worldwide.

Staying with the auto industry, The Wall Street Journal reported that Chrysler and Nissan Motors (NASDAQ: NSANY) are in talks tabout jointly producing midsize cars, where Nissan would produce midsize sedans that Chrysler would sell in the U.S. under its own name.

Continue reading Before the bell: Futures lower; AIG, TM, WMT down, COST, DNA could gain

Before the bell: Futures lower; AIG, TM, WMT down, COST, DNA could gain originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Aug 2008 08:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Volkswagen aims to overtake Ford as third-largest automaker

Brian White — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:11:00 EST

Filed under: Industry, Competitive Strategy, Ford Motor (F)

Although Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) has fallen on hard times -- like much of the auto industry -- the company will eventually come back around. Its success, like that of competitor General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), will be on its ability to be flexible enough to build the vehicles customers want as needs change.

That's a large order, though. Ford CEO Alan Mulally recently stated that his Way Forward plan was behind schedule, and the automaker wasn't expected to post an annual profit until 2010. Ford knows it needs to be more globally flexible or it won't even make that extended target. Profit centers like SUVs are so 1999.

On top of all that, a Volkswagen (OTC: VLKAY) executive recently said that the German automaker intends to surpass Ford to become the third-largest seller of vehicles in the world. That's quite a bold prediction and it puts Ford under even more pressure to get automobiles delivered to customers with increasing manufacturing and selling flexibility. As of last year, Volkswagen sold 6.19 million vehicles to Ford's 8.55 million. Is one year enough of a background to declare VW a future winner over Ford? Possibly.

Then again, Japanese automakers Honda Motor Corp. (NYSE: HMC) and Nissan Motor Co. (NASDAQ: NSANY) are not going anywhere and will continue to put up a great fight. Toyota Motor Co. (NYSE: TM) is currently the king of the Japanese automakers, right behind GM globally. If Volkswagen really believes it can charge into the third spot, it better have the global vehicle finesse to know what its regions' customers want before they want it -- and then, make those sales.

Volkswagen aims to overtake Ford as third-largest automaker originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 21 Jul 2008 13:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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