Briefcase
GM, Isuzu recall midsize pickups
DETROIT – More than 192,000 General Motors and Isuzu midsize pickup trucks are being recalled because of a problem with the system that anchors child safety seats, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Wednesday.
The recall affects Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon models from the 2004 to 2011 model years. Also affected are Isuzu I-280 and I-350 pickups from 2006 and I-290 and I-370 models from 2007 and 2008. The Isuzus were built by GM at its factory in Shreveport, La.
NHTSA said on its website that the trucks all have bench front seats and no rear seats. Owners can’t get to the top child seat anchor for the center of the front seat, and the owner’s manual has no instructions on how to use the top anchor, NHTSA said. No accidents or injuries have been reported, GM spokesman Alan Adler said.
Associated Press
Seattle Times names finance chief
SEATTLE – The Seattle Times Co. has named a new person to oversee the company’s finances.
The newspaper said Wednesday that 59-year-old Nathaniel “Buster” Brown will be its senior vice president of finance and financial strategy. He begins his new job on Monday.
Associated Press
GM: Volt to get 93 mpg
WASHINGTON – General Motors says its Chevrolet Volt will get the equivalent of 93 miles per gallon in combined city and highway driving while powered by electricity.
The automaker says the rechargeable electric car will get an estimated 37 mpg when running on its gasoline-powered generator.
The mileage figures will be on the Volt’s window sticker. It’s an estimate from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Earlier in the week Nissan said its Leaf all-electric car would get an estimated 99 mpg in combined city and highway driving.
The Volt can go 25-50 miles on electricity, then a small electric motor kicks in to generate power for the car.
Both the Leaf and Volt go on sale within weeks.
Associated Press
BP shares rise on Egypt gas find
LONDON – Shares in BP PLC bounced higher Wednesday after it revealed it has made a “significant” deep natural gas discovery in Egypt’s West Nile Delta.
The London-based company said a further appraisal of the Hodoa discovery, located 50 miles west of Alexandria, is under way.
BP operates and owns 80 percent of the West Mediterranean deepwater concession, with RWE Dea holding the remaining 20 percent. Hodoa was drilled by the Pride North American semi-sub rig in a water depth of 3,533 feet.
BP shares closed up 1.9 percent, or $6.55, on the London Stock Exchange.
Associated Press
Earnings roundup
• Tiffany & Co. reported third-quarter net income rose 27 percent on strong sales both in the U.S. and overseas. Tiffany raised its outlook for the year on the better-than-expected results and also said it might raise prices next year to offset higher costs for precious metals and diamonds.
• Farm equipment maker Deere & Co. reported net income of $457.2 million in its fiscal fourth quarter in contrast to a loss a year ago on stronger sales in the U.S. and Canada. For the full year, the company’s net income more than doubled to $1.87 billion. Deere predicted stronger numbers for fiscal 2011 as the global agricultural industry recovers. It forecast net income for fiscal 2011 of $2.1 billion. It expects Agriculture and Turf division sales to rise 7 percent to 9 percent in 2011 as farmers in key markets prosper from strong demand for crops, low grain stocks and high prices for corn, wheat, soybeans, sugar and cotton. But U.S. farm machinery sales are likely to be flat for the new year due to production limits and the transition to stronger pollution control requirements.
Associated Press