New Chrysler deal echoes GM pact

Chrysler LLC and the United Auto Workers ended a six-hour strike after agreeing on a contract that echoes last month's historic accord on retiree health care between the union and General Motors Corp.

Biz people

Fisher to take helm at ABN

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

'Housing crisis unlikely to hit Saint-Gobain'

A collapse in the US housing market is so far having a limited impact on Saint-Gobain's activity, the head of the world's biggest building materials group said, confirming the group's financial targets.

King reluctant to cut interest rates

Bank of England Governor Mervyn King suggested he's reluctant to cut interest rates to shield lenders from increased credit costs and predicted more "turmoil" in financial markets.

Survey: US economy to avoid slump

The US economy will skirt recession even as the housing slump takes a bigger bite from growth, according to a survey of economists.

Credit crunch means it's a new M&A ballgame

There's a revival under way in billion-dollar takeover offers, and the latest batch of deals shows how this year's credit crunch changed the landscape for mergers and acquisitions.

IN BRIEF (Page 16)

Business International

Google tops $600, but $700 may be harder to hit

Google Inc shares rose from $500 to $600 in 11 months. The next $100 gain may take longer.

Not the time to do the splits

Companies often turn to stock splits to make their shares easier to buy and sell. This isn't an issue for Google Inc, the owner of the world's most popular search engine, even though its stock exceeded $600 on Monday for the first time.

RBS pays 'big price' to control ABN

Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, winner in the six-month takeover battle for ABN Amro Holding NV, now faces the challenge of convincing its shareholders the 71.9 billion-euro buyout adds value.