Media Digest 12/1/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

According to Reuters, US car sales are expected to be down sharply for November.

Reuters reports that the global recession is hurting Asian factories.

Reuters reports that the GM (GM) board is reviewing the firm’s turnaround plan.

Reuters writes that credit card companies will cut available lines of credit by $2 trillion over the next 18 months.

Reuters reports that holiday sales rates may be worse than thought according to one researcher.

Reuters reports that a deadline is near for bids for the Lehman money management unit, Neuberger Berman.

Reuters writes that Samsung and LG have cut 2009 targets for handset sales.

The Wall Street Journal reports that holiday shopping got off to a good start.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the GM board wants to keep Chapter 11 as an option.

The Wall Street Journal writes that OPEC is still considering a production cut.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Delta (DAL) will change aircraft orders from Boeing (BA) after taking over Northwest.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Morgan Stanley (MS) may buy regional banks to increase deposits.

The Wall Street Journal reports that "Western pharmaceutical companies are facing intensifying scrutiny over the conduct of clinical trials in developing countries."

The Wall Street Journal writes that UnitedHealth (UNH) is launching a health Web site for the general public in a move to stake out a central role in online health care.

The Wall Street Journal reports that job growth looks bad if GDP does not recover.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Chevron (CVX) is looking at its overseas liabilities.

The Wall Street Journal reports that The Big Three and UAW are looking at more labor cost cuts.

The New York Times reports that big discounts may bring in shoppers but not profits.

The New York Times sales that cellphone companies hope touch screens will bring more customers.

The New York Times reports that China’s president warned that that the global slowdown could hurt the nation.

The New York Times reports that Facebook is adding applications to spread its usefulness on other sites.

The New York Times reports that CNN is creating a news service to compete with the AP.

The FT reports that AIG (AIG) sold its Swiss bank.

The FT writes that Volvo and Saab are asking for Swedish aid.

The FT writes that Baidu (BIDU) is facing a wave of legal actions.

The FT reports that Japan’s finance minister thinks that country is facing deflation.

Bloomberg reports that Russian manufacturing contracted for the fourth month.

Douglas A. McIntyre