World Business News

The “war for talent” has focused awareness on the need for leadership at all levels. It has also increased the expectation that executive development investments will pay off visibly and quickly. There can be no doubt that some of these expectations are not being met. While successful executive development engagements take many forms, to be truly effective, they should share one important quality: the participation of highly proactive and engaged leaders.

ROSEMEAD, California (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. on Monday announced a partnership with utility Southern California Edison to test a fleet of rechargeable electric vehicles and said it expected to sell such plug-in hybrids within the next decade if battery technology keeps pace.

ST PETERSBURG, Russia (Reuters) - Ford Motor Co. said on Tuesday it would boost output in Russia to 125,000 cars per year by 2009 from 72,000 as it seeks to satisfy booming demand in Europe’s fastest growing major car market.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Home improvement retailer Home Depot cut its 2007 earnings outlook on Tuesday, citing weakness in the U.S. housing market and said it was launching a tender offer for 250 million shares.

Mergers & acquisitions activity drove European stock markets to their highest level in more than six years on Tuesday morning.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. economy will grow at a moderate clip in 2007 as consumer spending growth slows and business spending moderates during the second half, a key economic forecast released on Tuesday showed.

BEIJING (Reuters) - China posted a record trade surplus of $26.9 billion in June as exporters rushed out shipments ahead of cuts in export tax rebates, handing further ammunition to critics of Beijing’s exchange rate regime.