GM to spend $200 million to end strike

General Motors Corp., of Detroit, has agreed to kick in as much as $200 million to help end a 10-week strike at parts supplier American Axle and Manufacturing Holdings Inc.

The automaker said Thursday in a government filing that the money would go for temporary payments to buffer reduced wages for the workers, as well as employee buyout and early retirement packages.

About 3,600 United Auto Workers at five American Axle factories have been on strike since Feb. 26 in a dispute over wages and benefits.

The strike has crippled GM’s production of pickups and sport utility vehicles and hurt its bottom line. About 30 GM factories have been either fully or partially closed because of the strike.

•Ford Motor Co. welcomed a significant investment by billionaire Kirk Kerkorian and executives told shareholders Thursday that it underscored the strength of turnaround plans for the second-largest American car company.

Executives said their work to return Ford to profitability by 2009 was taking hold, just over a week after Kerkorian’s Tracinda Corp. said it had acquired a 4.7 percent stake in the company.

Ford shares Thursday rose 3 percent, or 24 cents, to $8.20.

Ford Chief Executive Alan Mulally acknowledged that the slowing U.S. economy will create challenges, but said Ford was making progress. Ford has worked to reduce costs in North America and adjusted production levels, he said.

•One or more of the three Trump casinos could be sold, the company said Thursday.

Mark Juliano, chief executive officer of Trump Entertainment Resorts, said the gambling company is “looking at strategic alternatives” and would sell if a good deal materializes.

At least two potential deals to buy part or all of the company fell through last year.

•Cable TV provider Cablevision Systems Corp. disclosed plans Thursday to offer high-speed wireless Internet service across its coverage area in the New York region.

Chief Operating Officer Tom Rutledge told analysts on a conference call that with more than half the homes in its coverage area now subscribing to high-speed Internet service, the company had the “critical mass” to begin offering a wireless broadband service.

Rutledge said the service would be built out over the next two years or so and offer Cablevision’s existing Internet customers online access through mobile devices such as Apple Inc.’s iPhone, BlackBerry handsets or laptop computers.

Cablevision currently has about 3.1 million cable customers on Long Island and in other areas around New York.