Media Digest 5/19/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

Reuters:   Twitter will release business tools in an attempt to make money.

Reuters:   A GM (GM) bankruptcy is seen as nearly inevitable.

Reuters:   American Express (AXP) will cut 4,000 jobs.

Reuters:   Obama will unveil aggressive car fuel standards.

Reuters:   Madoff trustee sues Fairfield Group for $3.5 billion

Reuters:   Mail blue collar workers are losing ground in employment and compensation.

Reuters:   US home-builder sentiment rose to an eight month high.

Reuters:   AMD (AMD) sees a profit by the end of the year.

Reuters:   Sony Ericsson wants to raise $135 million.

Reuters:   Agricultural leaders see free trade as a buffer against recession.

Reuters:   Some big banks will apply to repay TARP funds.

WSJ:   Nine hundreds small and medium sized banks face $100 billion in losses from real estate.

WSJ:   Blackrock (BX) has been approved to buy toxic bank assets with access to public money.

WSJ:   Farms are starting to feel the credit pinch.

WSJ:   Google (GOOG) is starting to sift through data to tell who may quit the firm.

WSJ:   Small firms are waiting for the credit thaw.

WSJ:   Credit card firms are preparing for new government regulations.

WSJ:   A decline in the cost of drilling is helping energy firms with shrinking margins.

WSJ:   Canadian banks have an eye on US lenders.

WSJ:   Vodaphone’s (VOD) net dropped on write-downs.

WSJ:   An alternative to energy chips may be available.

WSJ:   New taxes loom to pay for an overhaul of healthcare.

WSJ:   HP’s (HPQ) printing business may turn in bad results.

WSJ:   Oil moves toward $60 and OPEC cuts are unlikely.

WSJ:   Hedge funds at cutting fees to get new money.

WSJ:   US states are joining suits over a potential  Wyeth (WYE) fraud.

WSJ:   The new Toyota (TM) Prius will fight for market share against the Honda (HMC) Insight.

WSJ:   Chrysler is extending buyout offers to employees.

WSJ:   HP and Dell (DELL) are struggling to show they can make profits in a tough environment.

WSJ:   Kirkorian’s share in MGM (MGM) is dropping.

NYT:   Cerdit card companies will turn to their best customers to make more money.

NYT:   Home Depot (HD) is preparing for continuing weakness among its customers.

NYT:   The amount that the government gets for warrants from TARP investment will determine who taxpayers will do

NYT:   Starbucks (SBUX) expects it message to spread through social networks.

FT:   Lehman is seeking a probe into assets sold to Barclays (BCS).

FT:   Vodafone will speed up cost cuts.

FT:   Companies face higher hedging costs for fuel.

FT:   China and Brazil may replace the dollar and use their own currencies for trade.

Bloomberg:   Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) is cutting back its stock repurchases to save cash.

Douglas A. McIntyre