Business Wire

Mazda spent 17.8 billion yen ($184 million) to buy back 6.8 percent of its own shares from cash-hungry Ford Motor Co., the Japanese automaker said Wednesday.

Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli says the automaker needs immediate federal help or its cash could fall short of the amount needed to stay in business.

The market had been down four of the past five sessions.

Bank of America Chief Executive Kenneth Lewis says greater transparency by home lenders and servicing the loans they sell could help fix the nation's foreclosure crisis.

Ford says it will offer employee pricing, zero percent financing and cash incentives on a variety of its vehicles.