February 16, 2007

the S&P 500 fell 0.1% to close at 1,456

2 news clips from this day

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GM warns on bad loans; HSBC bad debt jumps 20%

CBS News

Transcript

keep your eye on General Motors the company says it's finance arm could be hit hard by bad loans GM is expected to shell out nearly a hundred million dollars in the first half of this year owns that turn sour last week banking giant HSBC said its bad debt charges will be twenty percent higher than expected two companies are talking over beers & Heiser Bush is reportedly in merger talks with the maker of x and stella artois beer but industry analysts say a combination of the world's two largest beer makers would face antitrust hurdles neither company would comment on the swirling takeover rumors on Wall Street the Dow is going for record close number three investors will also be poring over the latest government report on wholesale inflation in the last session the dow up 23 points to a new all-time high and as dat composite game nearly 9 investors will also get another read on the real estate market today with the latest on housing starts for January and it's getting more expensive to finance your home the average rate on a 30-year mortgage inched up this week to six point three percent from six point two eight percent last week while the rate on a 15 year loan crept up to six point zero three percent that's your money watch log onto CBS News calm for the latest business headlines in New York I'm Alexis Kristin for us

GM eyes Chrysler buyout talks; housing starts sink 14%

CBS News

Transcript

[Music] the rumor mill has shifted into overdrive in the Auto industry General Motors is reportedly in preliminary talks to buy Chrysler speculations surrounding a possible sale or spin-off of Chrysler has built since Daimler Chrysler CEO said that all options were on the table for its struggling us division but analysts question whether GM would really benefit from a merger with Chrysler since both automakers are struggling with the same problems chryler and GM declined to comment on those buyout talks the cooling housing market just keeps getting colder construction of new homes tanked 14% in January to the lowest level in nearly 10 years the government also reported building permits which are a gauge of future building activity also fell in January and shares of Microsoft were tripped up after CEO Steve Balmer said wall Street's expectations for its New Vista operating system are just too optimistic Microsoft pulled out all the stops when it launched Vista last month but reviews of the operating system have been mixed and that's your money watch click on cbsnews.com for more in New York I'm Alexis christopherus