Media Digest 12/18/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

According to Reuters, Chrysler will idle its plant for a month to cut inventory and costs.

Reuters reports that the SEC is under fire over the Madoff investigation.

Reuters reports that Obama picked Mary Shapiro to the SEC.

Reuters reports that most analysts think that Japan will cut rates.

Reuters reports that OPEC made its deepest oil cut ever.

Reuters reports that investors are concerned about Apple’s (AAPL) prospects in 2009.

Reuters reports that Qantas and British Airways cut off merger talks.

Reuters reports that GM (GM) and Chrysler have reopened merger talks.

Reuters reports that a bank analyst has increased his loss estimate for Citigroup’s Q4.

Reuters reports that Goldman Sachs (GS) has agreed to the Panasonic bid for Sanyo.

Reuters reports that the head of the World Bank expects a tough first half in 2009.

Reuters reports that Honda (HMC) fell on revised forecasts.

The Wall Street Journal says that fourteen firms have come together to make advanced car batteries and are asking the federal government for $1 billion.

The Wall Street Journal says the Fed is seeing some success with its rate cut to 0%.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Motorola (MOT) cut costs again.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the credit crisis hurt Morgan Stanley (MS) earnings.

The Wall Street Journal reports that US company investments in research are expected to fall.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the value of Chinese homes is not longer growing quickly.

The Wall Street Journal reports that the index of economic indicates is expected to fall again.

The Wall Street Journal reports that more California towns face bankruptcy.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Fedex (FDX) may have reasonable earnings but is cutting forecasts.

The Wall Street Journal reports that new Chrysler credit terms for dealer could force more closures.

The Wall Street Journal reports that EDF beat out Warren Buffett in a $4.5 billion deal for a stake in Constellation Energy.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Newell cut forecasts and costs.

The Wall Street Journal reports that GM (GM) opened a new plant in China to build compacts.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Nike (NKE) posted strong sales overseas.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Conagra and General Mills reported improved sales.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Take-Two (TTWO) reported a large loss.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Macy’s (M) improved its funding facility.

The New York Times reports that Paulson is negotiating terms between the government and GM and Chrysler.

The New York Times reports that the value of the dollar was hurt by the Fed rate cut.

The New York Times reports that newspapers are cutting Washington bureaus.

The New York Times reports that bankers are hardening terms for small business owners.

The New York Times reports that many bonuses at Goldman Sachs (GS) were cut by 80%.

Bloomberg reports that Paulson may ask for the next $350 billion in the rescue package as the recession deepens.

Bloomberg reports that GM (GM) may shrink Pontiac to a single model.

Douglas A. McIntyre