Consumer Loan And Savings Rates (San Jose Mercury News) A

Consumer Loan And Savings Rates (San Jose Mercury News)
A sampling of financial institutions was asked to quote the most recent lowest annual percentage rates they would charge a new loan customer with an annual income from $30,000 to $35,000 and good credit standing. Qualifications for borrowing and finance charges vary among institutions. Rates may differ from branch to branch. Some institutions provide lower rates to existing customers.

Auto Reviews (BusinessWeek)
BusinessWeek has teamed with J.D. Power and Associates to let you compare customer satisfaction and product quality ratings. How safe is your car? Check out the latest crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

30-year mortgages dip, other home loans mixed (The Times)
WASHINGTON -- Rates on 30-year mortgages dipped this week, although it was a mixed bag for rates on other home loans.

New hybrids rolled out, but will sales follow? (The Times)
DETROIT -- Automakers are rolling out several new hybrids at this year's North American International Auto Show as hybrid sales continue to grow at a phenomenal pace.

Test Drive: Project Gotham Racing 3
Editors at MSN Autos take Microsoft's latest driving game out for a spin.
Perry Stern

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive Programs
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford announce new programs in efforts to boost slackening year-end sales.
Perry Stern

Celebrity rides (Autoblog)
Filed under: Aftermarket The LA Auto Show gets some car-loving celebs out to visit, so it's quite timely that MSNBC has done a feature on the sweet cars some celebs like Shaq and Missy Elliott drive -- and what they do to make those cars even better. Stephon Marbury of the New York Knicks worked with Star Motoring to build the Viant SLV 365, a Cadillac Escalade with a Rolls Royce Phantom

Winter Driving Tips From the Experts
Winter conditions can be challenging for drivers of all skill levels. The editor of Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada offers sound advice from the Great White North.
Marc Lachapelle, with Gerry Malloy for Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada

Life since Bangle-butt: BusinessWeek interviews Adrian van Hooydonk (Autoblog)
BusinessWeek recently created a new Autos channel on its web site, and we've been having a blast sifting through all the content up on the new corner of the site. One article of particular interest given the design hype that has come out of the LA Auto Show (and Chris Bangle's presence there) is BusinessWeek's interview with BMW Designworks president Adrian van Hooydonk. What's been on the

Travelers Group lowers auto insurance for hybrids (Autoblog)
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative USA Toda y reports that Travelers Group will offer a 10 percent discount for owners of gas/electric hybrids. According to the insurance company, hybrid owners are classed in its "preferred group" - married, ages 41-60, of either gender. The discount does not include personal injury and uninsured motorist components of drivers' insurance package, but

2006 NAIAS CoverageThe Official Web Site of the North American

2006 NAIAS Coverage
The Official Web Site of the North American International Auto Show.
Editors of MSN Autos

30-year mortgages dip, other home loans mixed (The Times)
WASHINGTON -- Rates on 30-year mortgages dipped this week, although it was a mixed bag for rates on other home loans.

Mercury Mariner Hybrid wins first Green Car of the Year (Autoblog)
Filed under: LA Auto Show , Hybrids/Alternative Joel was there live today as the Green Car Journal announced that the winner of its first Green Car of the Year is the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The jury selecting the winner included Green Car Journal staff, as well as automotive and environmental experts such as Carroll Shelby, Jean-Michel Cousteau and Mario Andretti. Judges were looking for

Real Estate Live (Washington Post)
Post Real Estate editor Maryann Haggerty takes your questions and comments about the local housing market.

Auto Reviews (BusinessWeek)
BusinessWeek has teamed with J.D. Power and Associates to let you compare customer satisfaction and product quality ratings. How safe is your car? Check out the latest crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive Programs
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford announce new programs in efforts to boost slackening year-end sales.
Perry Stern

New hybrids rolled out, but will sales follow? (The Times)
DETROIT -- Automakers are rolling out several new hybrids at this year's North American International Auto Show as hybrid sales continue to grow at a phenomenal pace.

Travelers Group lowers auto insurance for hybrids (Autoblog)
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative USA Toda y reports that Travelers Group will offer a 10 percent discount for owners of gas/electric hybrids. According to the insurance company, hybrid owners are classed in its "preferred group" - married, ages 41-60, of either gender. The discount does not include personal injury and uninsured motorist components of drivers' insurance package, but

Toyota Yaris TRD (Autoblog)
Filed under: Aftermarket , LA Auto Show , Economy Apparently Toyota is well aware that the North American market may view the Yaris compact as wanting in the power and handling department. Stuart found a Yaris on display at the L.A. auto show tuned by Street Image with a ton of TRD parts that may address this issue directly. Highlights include 18-inch wheels, a Sportivo suspension,

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used Car
Carfax provides guidance and tips to help you spot vehicles with potential water damage.
Editors of MSN Autos

A little more info on the Imperial (Autoblog) Filed under:

A little more info on the Imperial (Autoblog)
Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Sedans/Saloons In response to John's post on the Chrysler Imperial concept for the North American International Auto Show, several Autoblog readers responded with displeasure at the idea of suicide doors and no b-pillar (among other things). According to a Chrysler source, the suicide doors and the lack of a b-pillar on the concept are

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive Programs
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford announce new programs in efforts to boost slackening year-end sales.
Perry Stern

Real Estate Live (Washington Post)
Post Real Estate editor Maryann Haggerty takes your questions and comments about the local housing market.

Auto Reviews (BusinessWeek)
BusinessWeek has teamed with J.D. Power and Associates to let you compare customer satisfaction and product quality ratings. How safe is your car? Check out the latest crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Mercury Mariner Hybrid wins first Green Car of the Year (Autoblog)
Filed under: LA Auto Show , Hybrids/Alternative Joel was there live today as the Green Car Journal announced that the winner of its first Green Car of the Year is the Mercury Mariner Hybrid. The jury selecting the winner included Green Car Journal staff, as well as automotive and environmental experts such as Carroll Shelby, Jean-Michel Cousteau and Mario Andretti. Judges were looking for

Formula EV X-01 (Autoblog)
Filed under: LA Auto Show , Motorsports , Hybrids/Alternative Stuart flipped his lid when he found this all-electric racer hiding in the corner of the L.A. auto show, although he warned me that the rep didn t speak English very well, so these details might be sketchy. The Formula EV X-01 comes all the way from Japan where it competes in the Japan EV Club (JEVC). Sponsored by Yokohama

Preview: 2006 Porsche Cayman S
Porsche's new mid-engine coupe builds on the Boxster S, but kicks it up a notch in the performance department.
Mike Meredith

Corvette Z06 and Leno to pace Daytona 500 (Autoblog)
Filed under: LA Auto Show , Motorsports , Sports/GTs Stuart has reported that Jay Leno made a surprise guest appearance at GM s press conference today at the L.A. auto show, and it was announced the chin-tastic comedian would be driving the Z06 Daytona 500 Pace Car at the 48th annual running of the historic motorsport event. This is the second year in a row for the Corvette (last year the

Editor's Choice Association sees insurance industry growing 7% in 2006 - Mexico (Business News Americas)
Mexico's insurance industry could grow 7% in real terms this year thanks to the expected recovery of auto insurance and growth in non-P&C lines such as life and health insurance, industry association Amis CEO Recaredo Arias told BNamericas.

Auto Reviews (BusinessWeek) BusinessWeek has teamed with J.D. Power and

Auto Reviews (BusinessWeek)
BusinessWeek has teamed with J.D. Power and Associates to let you compare customer satisfaction and product quality ratings. How safe is your car? Check out the latest crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Editor's Choice Association sees insurance industry growing 7% in 2006 - Mexico (Business News Americas)
Mexico's insurance industry could grow 7% in real terms this year thanks to the expected recovery of auto insurance and growth in non-P&C lines such as life and health insurance, industry association Amis CEO Recaredo Arias told BNamericas.

Toyota Yaris TRD (Autoblog)
Filed under: Aftermarket , LA Auto Show , Economy Apparently Toyota is well aware that the North American market may view the Yaris compact as wanting in the power and handling department. Stuart found a Yaris on display at the L.A. auto show tuned by Street Image with a ton of TRD parts that may address this issue directly. Highlights include 18-inch wheels, a Sportivo suspension,

Mark Fields opens in Los Angeles (Autoblog)
Filed under: LA Auto Show , Trends The first thing Stuart and I had to look forward to at the Los Angeles auto show was Ford's wonder boy, Mark Fields, giving the keynote. Charged with coming up with " The Way Forward ," Fields didn't give us details on his grand master plan (it's due January 23, and they're going to make us wait until that very day, evidently) other than to relate that

How Will America's Big Two Automakers Survive?
After decades of market share losses, look for a leaner and more focused Big Two.
Ann Job

Test Drive: Project Gotham Racing 3
Editors at MSN Autos take Microsoft's latest driving game out for a spin.
Perry Stern

Preview: 2006 Porsche Cayman S
Porsche's new mid-engine coupe builds on the Boxster S, but kicks it up a notch in the performance department.
Mike Meredith

Super Cheap sales up 14pc (Herald Sun) RETAILER Super Cheap

Super Cheap sales up 14pc (Herald Sun)
RETAILER Super Cheap Auto Group today announced that its first half group sales had grown by 14.3 per cent to $264.7 million compared to the previous corresponding period despite continuing difficult retail conditions.

Porsche debuts Cayman S in U.S. with a price (Autoblog)
Filed under: Car Buying , LA Auto Show , Coupes Bones. Bucks. Dinero. Whatever you call cash, you re going to 58,900 units of it to put a Porsche Cayman S in your garage, according to Stuart reporting from the L.A. auto show. As we ve reported before , what you ll get is a baby 911 packing a 3.4L flat-six with VarioCam Plug making 295 hp and 251 lb-ft of torque, as well as a dynamic and

Troy Lee Designs Mazda MX-5 (Autoblog)
Filed under: Aftermarket , LA Auto Show , Convertibles After showing us all why crack and paint don t mix at SEMA with a Troy Lee Designs Range Rover Sport , Mr. Lee and company have returned at the L.A. auto show with their rendition of the Mazda MX-5. Actually, I kind of dig the paint that fades away from the headlights, although Stu states from L.A. that, you wouldn't take it

Refinancing Car Loans Can Save After Interest Rate Cuts (Action News 4 Pittsburgh)
As interest rates drop, people's thoughts turn to refinancing -- refinancing their home loan, that is. What they don't know is that refinancing an auto loan is easier to do, and it can save you some serious money.

Corvette Z06 and Leno to pace Daytona 500 (Autoblog)
Filed under: LA Auto Show , Motorsports , Sports/GTs Stuart has reported that Jay Leno made a surprise guest appearance at GM s press conference today at the L.A. auto show, and it was announced the chin-tastic comedian would be driving the Z06 Daytona 500 Pace Car at the 48th annual running of the historic motorsport event. This is the second year in a row for the Corvette (last year the

China sees small car value (Northern Territory News)
CHINA has begun a push to promote small, low-emission cars as oil prices remain high and environmental concerns grow over the nation's fast-rising auto culture.

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive ProgramsGeneral Motors, Chrysler

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive Programs
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford announce new programs in efforts to boost slackening year-end sales.
Perry Stern

Toyota slaps Monroney on new FJ Cruiser (Autoblog)
Filed under: Car Buying , LA Auto Show , Trends , SUVs We've all seen the specs and ridden along with Edmunds on one of the first FJ Cruiser road tests, now comes the hard part-- paying for it. Or perhaps not: the base FJ, with rear-wheel-drive motivation and five-speed slushbox will hit showrooms for $21,710, and a 4x4 six-speed row-it-yourself will go for $22,890. Soccer moms and

Dodge Challenger Concept - Photo Gallery (Autoblog)
Filed under: Concept Cars , Detroit Auto Show , Coupes The cat is so out of the bag on this one and it has been ever since Dodge let its Challenger Concept get caught on film naked in the wild back in November. It s now on the covers of at least three car mags already on the stands and it s been judged, critiqued and evaluated exhaustively already. And the damn thing hasn t even

Ford sales fall 9pc (Northern Territory News)
FORD Motor Company in the US said overnight its December US auto sales fell 9 per cent, ending the month at 267,881 units. Full-year sales also were lower, falling five per cent to 3,168,156 vehicles in 2005.

2006 NAIAS Coverage
The Official Web Site of the North American International Auto Show.
Editors of MSN Autos

Super Cheap sales up 14pc (Herald Sun)
RETAILER Super Cheap Auto Group today announced that its first half group sales had grown by 14.3 per cent to $264.7 million compared to the previous corresponding period despite continuing difficult retail conditions.

The Truth About Fuel Economy Ratings
If your new car's actual fuel mileage does not match the fuel economy numbers on the window sticker, it's not necessarily your car's fault.
Ann Job

VW GX3 (Autoblog)
Filed under: Concept Cars , LA Auto Show Stuart has sent news of VW's "surprise" for the L.A. show the GX3 which was literally driven into the display area through the crowd - very cool. The crazy three-wheeled concept is actually more production ready than you would think. VW claims the GX3 could be a product as early as 2007 with a price target of around $17,000 and it s car pool

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used Car
Carfax provides guidance and tips to help you spot vehicles with potential water damage.
Editors of MSN Autos

Local News and Notes (Provo Daily Herald) Real Estate Goldenwest

Local News and Notes (Provo Daily Herald)
Real Estate Goldenwest Credit Union opening new branch in Provo -- Goldenwest Credit Union, which has 13 branches statewide, is opening its first Utah County office in Provo. The new full-service branch, located within Ream's Family Foods grocery store at 2250 N..

Incubator failed to help entrepreneurs (Smoky Mountain News)
A small business incubator in Waynesville has failed in it mission to nurture entrepreneurs and start-up companies, and instead has devolved into little more than a building to house a handful of companies for the long haul, according to critics.

Refinancing Car Loans Can Save After Interest Rate Cuts (Action News 4 Pittsburgh)
As interest rates drop, people's thoughts turn to refinancing -- refinancing their home loan, that is. What they don't know is that refinancing an auto loan is easier to do, and it can save you some serious money.

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used Car
Carfax provides guidance and tips to help you spot vehicles with potential water damage.
Editors of MSN Autos

2006 NAIAS Coverage
The Official Web Site of the North American International Auto Show.
Editors of MSN Autos

Loan processors plead guilty in mortgage fraud (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Two loan processors have agreed to plead guilty to fraud and other charges in the federal probe into mortgage fraud involving low-priced local homes.

The Truth About Fuel Economy Ratings
If your new car's actual fuel mileage does not match the fuel economy numbers on the window sticker, it's not necessarily your car's fault.
Ann Job

How Will America's Big Two Automakers Survive?
After decades of market share losses, look for a leaner and more focused Big Two.
Ann Job

Opening View: An FOMC Hangover on Wall Street (Schaeffers Research)
Many of our observations are now available as audio presentations that you can play on your computer or download from Apple's iTunes Music Store to play on a portable device such as an iPod...( Read More )

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used CarCarfax

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used Car
Carfax provides guidance and tips to help you spot vehicles with potential water damage.
Editors of MSN Autos

New Website is a One Stop Auto Shop (PR Web)
A new site on the World Wide Web enables people with bad credit - and all other credit grades - to apply for credit using the Internet. The website, found at http://www.fast-auto-loan.net/loan_easy/car.html on the World Wide Web, provides listings and links to resources that can help consumers find loans and insurance quotes. [PRWEB Jan 2, 2006]

Experts Anticipate Industry Movement During 2006 (GlobeSt.com) DETROIT-A continued emphasis

Experts Anticipate Industry Movement During 2006 (GlobeSt.com)
DETROIT-A continued emphasis on a search for good deals highlighted the office and industrial markets during 2005, both from the investment and leasing sides. Experts are telling GlobeSt.com that more of the same is likely to occur in 2006.

Flood Damage: Don't Get Soaked When Buying a Used Car
Carfax provides guidance and tips to help you spot vehicles with potential water damage.
Editors of MSN Autos

Detroit's 'Big Three' Automakers Launch New Incentive Programs
General Motors, Chrysler and Ford announce new programs in efforts to boost slackening year-end sales.
Perry Stern

Robot Portfolio Steams to 7th-Straight Victory: John Dorfman (Bloomberg.com)
Jan. 3 (Bloomberg) -- That darn Robot has done it again. For the seventh-consecutive year, the Robot Portfolio has vanquished the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, outperforming me and most other money managers I know.

Robot Portfolio Steams to 7th-Straight Victory: John Dorfman (Bloomberg.com) Jan.

Robot Portfolio Steams to 7th-Straight Victory: John Dorfman (Bloomberg.com)
Jan. 3 (Bloomberg) -- That darn Robot has done it again. For the seventh-consecutive year, the Robot Portfolio has vanquished the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, outperforming me and most other money managers I know.

Canara Bank to give soft loans for green power (India

Canara Bank to give soft loans for green power (India Daily)
Canara Bank today unvieled a major soft loan scheme for Solar Water Heaters backed by interest subsidy from government.

Check out these 14 great stocks (Rediff.com)
With two and half years of bull run behind us, could this year be the grand finale with a euphoric spike? May be. But it is safer to adopt a strategy that does not count on euphoria.

Winter Driving Tips From the ExpertsWinter conditions can be challenging

Winter Driving Tips From the Experts
Winter conditions can be challenging for drivers of all skill levels. The editor of Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada offers sound advice from the Great White North.
Marc Lachapelle, with Gerry Malloy for Sympatico / MSN Autos Canada

Greens learn business counts when it comes to winning in Olympia (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Washington state's environmental community has learned an important lesson about dealing the Legislature: Don't expect everything all at once, and make sure whatever you push for doesn't pit the environment against the economy.

Wall Street hopes to recover from lacklustre 2005 (AFP via Yahoo! News)
Blue-chip US stocks limped to their first annual loss in three years in 2005, and opinion is divided over whether 2006 will be any better for Wall Street.

Some choices on financial advice for any age (Salisbury Post)
If you're like me, any budget or financial plan you might have had going into December is now just a faded memory. In the flurry of gift giving, it's easy to get carried away and spend like there's no tomorrow.

New owner 'ready to pull the trigger' (Delaware Online) The

New owner 'ready to pull the trigger' (Delaware Online)
The moment Delaware has been bracing for has arrived: Bank of America is scheduled today to complete its purchase of MBNA Corp., the state's largest private employer and a force for economic growth for more than two decades.

Looking back, things looking up (Kansas City Star)
Trying to build a financial safety net? Use paper, not plastic.

GoDaddy.com (Macon Daily)
Condo, life, auto, renters, home owners, and fire insurance. Low Rates - Buildings Find Affordable Storage Near You! Want great value insurance? Compare latest offers on one site

AmeriCredit Speeds Up (BusinessWeek Online via Yahoo! News)
AmeriCredit is the market's comeback kid. In March, 2003, the stock skidded to 1.63 -- down from its peak of 63 in mid-2001 -- after the national auto lender got hit by bad loans and, ultimately, funding woes. It's now at 25, and some pros say that it still has running room -- and that AmeriCredit could be a takeover target. Hedge fund manager Tom Brown at Second Curve Capital bets that Wachovia

Preview: 2006 Porsche Cayman SPorsche's new mid-engine coupe builds on

Preview: 2006 Porsche Cayman S
Porsche's new mid-engine coupe builds on the Boxster S, but kicks it up a notch in the performance department.
Mike Meredith

Rape fliers, Floyd fire top end of 2005 headlines (Portales News-tribune)
Editor s note: The following is a brief look at the stories that made news locally in 2005. The PNT will run the year-in-review in each of the coming issues through Jan. 1.

The Truth About Fuel Economy Ratings
If your new car's actual fuel mileage does not match the fuel economy numbers on the window sticker, it's not necessarily your car's fault.
Ann Job

OUT OF THE RED: Some young gift buyers set to pay bills (The Charlotte Observer)
Some young gift buyers set to pay bills Unwilling to fall into debt,

GoDaddy.com (Macon Daily)
Condo, life, auto, renters, home owners, and fire insurance. Low Rates - Buildings Find Affordable Storage Near You! Want great value insurance? Compare latest offers on one site

How Will America's Big Two Automakers Survive?
After decades of market share losses, look for a leaner and more focused Big Two.
Ann Job

AmeriCredit Speeds Up (BusinessWeek Online via Yahoo! News)
AmeriCredit is the market's comeback kid. In March, 2003, the stock skidded to 1.63 -- down from its peak of 63 in mid-2001 -- after the national auto lender got hit by bad loans and, ultimately, funding woes. It's now at 25, and some pros say that it still has running room -- and that AmeriCredit could be a takeover target. Hedge fund manager Tom Brown at Second Curve Capital bets that Wachovia

Hoping to recover from 2005 (The Star Online)
BLUE-CHIP US stocks limped to their first annual loss in three years in 2005, and opinion is divided over whether 2006 will be any better for Wall Street.

2006 NAIAS Coverage
The Official Web Site of the North American International Auto Show.
Editors of MSN Autos