Reuters:   Price cuts on video consoles by Microsoft (MSFT) and Sony (SNE) have causeD the competition in the field to heat up.

Reuters:   AIG’s (AIG) new CEO says he is working hard and is misunderstood.

Reuters:   Dell (DELL) results were better than expected.

Reuters:   The economy is shrinking more slowly and jobless claims improved.

Reuters:   Toyota (TM) will end production in a California plant.

Reuters:   A Chinese company may close a deal to buy Hummer next week.

Reuters:   FDIC problem banks hit 416.

Reuters:   Boeing (BA) says itS 787 will fly this year.

Reuters:   Ford (F) added shifts at two truck plants.

WSJ:   Farm profits will drop sharply this year.

WSJ:   The head of AIG (AIG) says he will slow asset sales.

WSJ:   Merriman Curhan Ford has begun to operate regularly again after a raft of problems.

WSJ:   Japan’s jobless rate hit a record high.

WSJ:   Harley Davidson (HOG) is expanding in India.

WSJ:   Facebook will change its privacy controls.

WSJ:   Oregon is stepping up efforts to recruit clean energy companies.

WSJ:   Nokia (NOK) will use Linux in its new phone.

WSJ:   Sirius (SIRI) will tap Apple’s (AAPL) iPhone and iPod for growth.

WSJ:   Investor sentiment is very positive, which may cause a market decline.

WSJ:   Cable stocks look cheap.

WSJ:   Debt markets are nervous about Citigroup (C) and Bank of America (BAC).

WSJ:   Natural gas prices fell due to a supply glut.

WSJ:   Investigators began a probe into the wireless industry.

NYT:   The rise in AIG (AIG) shares does not make sense due to the size of government ownership

NYT:   A&E and the Lifetime channels completed their merger.

NYT:   Europe is seeking rules to improve access to books online.

NYT:   The WSJ will keep a PR executive as one of its writers.

FT:   Sweden has announced negative interest rates on some bank deposits.

Bloomberg:   July consumer spending probably up due to “cash for clunkers”

Douglas A. McIntyre