U.S. economy is sluggish after Katrina (Inside Bay Area) WASHINGTON

U.S. economy is sluggish after Katrina (Inside Bay Area)
WASHINGTON Consumer spending plunged in August at the steepest rate since the September 2001 terrorist attacks as Hurricane Katrina slashed Americans' incomes, fanned inflation and caused $170

New Jeep Concepts
Two concept vehicles, unveiled at Europe's largest auto show, provide a peek into the future of DaimlerChrysler's Jeep brand.
Editors of MSN Autos

GM, Toyota, Delphi, Yum Brands, Wendy's in focus (CBS Market Watch)
Top stories before the start of U.S. trading on Wednesday.

Concentra Completes Acquisition of Beech Street Corporation (Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance)
Concentra Operating Corporation today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Beech Street Corporation in a $165 million cash transaction. This acquisition expands Concentra's offerings in the group health market and enhances its existing lines of service to the nation's leading health plans, insurers and third-party administrators.

Preview: 2006 Ford Fusion
Ford's most important midsize sedan launch since the Taurus.
Perry Stern

America's Most Loved New Vehicles
Discover which new cars and trucks Americans love the most . . .
Editors of MSN Autos

News from Reuters (The Globe and Mail)
TORONTO (Reuters) - Toronto stocks were hammered on Tuesday as energy issues retreated on news that the United States would use its emergency stockpiles of crude and heating oil, if needed, to avert a fuel crunch.

Katrina Contributes To Drop in Spending (Washington Post)
Katrina propels largest drop in spending since September 2001; experts predict rebound as funds pour into rebuilding effort.

Concentra Completes Acquisition of Beech Street Corporation; Company Announces Refinancing of Senior Credit Agreement (RedNova)
Concentra Operating Corporation ("Concentra" or the "Company") today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of Beech Street Corporation in a $165 million cash transaction.

News from Reuters (The Globe and Mail)
TORONTO (Reuters) - A Canadian judge has ruled Ravelston Corp. Ltd., the insolvent holding company of one-time newspaper baron Conrad Black, can plead not guilty to several U.S. fraud charges in connection with the sale of newspapers.