Media Digest 3/17/2009 Reuters, WSJ, NYTimes, FT, Bloomberg

According to Reuters, Obama faces backlash due to AIG (AIG) compensation issues which could set bank his efforts to salvage the financial system.

Reuters reports that Lehman will put two of its banking units on the block.

Reuters writes that GM (GM) bondholders say that their plan to save the company is the best chance for the car company.

Reuters reports that Alcoa (AA) cut its dividend and will try to raise cash.

Reuters writes that Obama unveiled his plans to help small business.

Reuters writes that Hearst closed the print edition of its Seattle paper.

Reuters reports that there is pressure to kill the deal for a Chinese metals company to buy part of Rio Tinto (RTP).

Reuters reports that Citgroup (C) and Morgan Stanley (MS) are looking for ways to side step pay limits.

Reuters reports that Goldman Sachs (GS) is offering loans to financially stretched staff.

Reuters writes that the government says that JP Morgan (JPM) must let shareholder vote on its bonus plan.

Reuters reports that Yahoo Japan will buy bank $300 million of its shares.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Merck (MRK), Roche, and Pfizer (PFE) raised $155 billion for M&A but drug buy-out deals have mixed results.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Target (TGT) faces a proxy battle with William Ackman.

The Wall Street Journal reports that unions are pressing casinos for better wages.

The Wall Street Journal reports that cable companies and telcos don’t want broadband stimulus money to be used to start new competitors.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Barclays (BCS) is shopping its ETF business.

The Wall Street Journal writes that wheat hit a one month high.

The Wall Street Journal writes that Intel (INTC) is claiming that AMD (AMD) has breached an agreement between the two companies.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Cisco (CSCO) will launch new servers in a bid to compete in a crowed market.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Mexico will raise tariffs on 90% of US imports.

The Wall Street Journal reports that deflation is still a concern.

The Wall Street Journal reports that many companies owned by private equity firms are firing people as the struggle with debt loads.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Citigroup (C) appointed four new directors.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Obama is not seeking to put GM (GM) and Chrysler into Chapter 11.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Chrysler will remain independent and will seek more government loans, according to its chairman.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Starbucks (SBUX) will reveal its recession strategy.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Wal-Mart (WMT) is expanding private labels to appeal to people with limited budgets.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Icahn will bid for control of Tropicana.

The New York Times reports that China’s $600 billion stimulus package is aimed at making it more competitive.

The New York Times reports that stimulus money will help the clean coal industry.

The New York Times writes that industrial output dropped for a fourth month.

The FT reports that Goldman Sachs is looking at the distressed debt market.

The FT reports that GM (GM) will cut prices to try to bring back customers.

The FT reports that the Swiss claim that changing bank secrecy rules will take time.

Bloomberg writes that Bernanke may need to make huge asset purchases to stop credit contraction.

Bloomberg reports that Standard Chartered reports a strong start to the year.

Douglas A. McIntyre