Business

Town Mourns Typical Businessman Who Took Untypical Risks
By CARTER DOUGHERTY

The suicide of the German billionaire Adolf Merckle shocked the nation as much as it angered his tiny town, where he was eulogized at a service that overflowed the church.
Market Place
A Cash Machine Runs Low
By ERIC DASH

It seemed as if Citigroup was regaining a bit of trust on Wall Street, but as the struggling giant moved toward a deal with Morgan Stanley, all the old demons returned.
Madoff Still Free on Bail, With Signs Seen of Plea Deal
Madoff Still Free on Bail, With Signs Seen of Plea Deal
By DIANA B. HENRIQUES 12 minutes ago

Signs emerged that the lawyer of Bernard L. Madoff was actively negotiating a plea agreement that could conclude the baffling fraud case without a trial.

* Documents (pdf): U.S. District Court Ruling | Federal Appeal of Ruling
* Calm Judicial Eye in Madoff Bail Storm
* Big City: Madoff Apologizes to Neighbors for the Ultimate Co-op Crime

At Obama’s Urging, Bush to Seek Rest of Bailout Funds
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN 3:08 PM ET

The request for the second half of the $700 billion bailout fund sets the stage for a potentially messy legislative battle.

* Obama to Visit the Hill to Ask Democrats to Approve Bailout
* Interactive Interactive Graphic: Tracking the Bailout Funds
* CNBC Video: Obama Discusses Tarp Funds

Wagoner Says G.M. Is Focused on Restructuring
Wagoner Says G.M. Is Focused on Restructuring
By BILL VLASIC 1 minute ago

G.M.’s chairman said a $13.4-billion federal-aid package is sufficient to keep the company solvent through March.

* New Cars Arrive, Courting Few Buyers
* 2009 Detroit Auto Show Photographs Slide Show | Video Video

Deal Reported in Russian Gas Standoff
By DAVID JOLLY and JUDY DEMPSEY 15 minutes ago

The agreement, which was not yet confirmed by Ukraine, came after a deal to deploy pipeline monitors.

* Times Topics: Russia | Ukraine

Advertising
Unemployed? Monster.com Wants You to Laugh
By STEPHANIE CLIFFORD

As it tries to appeal to job seekers in a new advertising campaign, the parent company of the employment Web site Monster is using a humorous touch.
Itineraries
Flight Delay Information Lost in a Fog
By SUSAN STELLIN 7:48 PM ET

Airlines and airports have a convoluted way of delivering information on the status of flights.
Germany Is Planning a Bigger Stimulus Package
By JUDY DEMPSEY 7:10 PM ET

Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany has resisted a sweeping stimulus plan, but senior members of the government are finishing up a package that could be Europe’s biggest.
Markets Down Sharply as Earnings Season Begins
By JACK HEALY 38 minutes ago

Wall Street gave up nearly all the gains from a year-end rally that had lifted battered shares more than 7 percent.
Honda Unveils a Cheaper Hybrid Challenger to Toyota’s Top-Selling Prius
By NICK BUNKLEY

The Toyota Prius, which currently dominates the U.S. hybrid car market, will face its most serious challenger this year as Honda introduces the Insight hybrid.
A Small Showing, but With Big Dreams
By NICK BUNKLEY

For the first time, two Chinese carmakers are exhibiting this year on the main floor of the Detroit auto show.
Despite Skepticism, Release of $350 Billion More in Federal Bailout Money Gains Favor
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and EDMUND L. ANDREWS

Republican and Democratic Senate leaders signaled that they would support the release of the second half of the Treasury’s $700 billion financial system bailout fund.
Seeing Oil’s Limits, Gulf States Invest Heavily in Clean Energy
By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL

The emirates, Qatar and Saudi Arabia are aggressively pouring billions of dollars made in the oil fields into new green technologies.
On the Road
Place Your Bets in Priceline’s Casino
By JOE SHARKEY

The blind-bidding option on Priceline.com is recommended if you’re flexible and have done research. You can easily overbid for a hotel that might be had for less elsewhere.

* Frequent Flier: Irrational Fear Takes a Seat

Layoffs at Cessna Expand by 2,000
Board Tries to Chart Recovery for Scandal-Ridden Indian Firm 1 minute ago
Sales Down, Alcoa Loses $1.19 Billion 38 minutes ago
Seagate Shares Fall on Surprise Management Shift 1 minute ago
Christie’s Plans Cuts as Auctions Slow 13 minutes ago
Alitalia Sells a Stake as It Makes Its Return 5:23 PM ET
F.D.A. Eases Off-Label Drug Rules
Breakingviews.com: A Dollar General Public Offering?
Abbott Labs Buys Rival 28 minutes ago
A Reflective Bush Defends Decisions on National Security 1 minute ago
Japan and Korea Vow Unity on Economic Slump 30 minutes ago
Don Callender, 81, Food Entrepreneur, Is Dead
Calm Judicial Eye in Storm Over Bail
Irrational Fear Takes a Seat
Multimedia
Home Prices in Selected Cities
Interactive Graphic INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC: Home Prices in Selected Cities

All 20 cities in the Standard & Poor’s/Case Shiller Housing Index reported declines in October.
Sparkling Spending for Fizzy Wines
Interactive Map INTERACTIVE MAP: Sparkling Spending for Fizzy Wines

Spending on sparkling wines in nearly every country increased in the last five years, particularly in East Asia, Eastern Europe and South America.
10 Weeks of Financial Turmoil
Interactive Feature INTERACTIVE FEATURE: 10 Weeks of Financial Turmoil

A look at recent events that have shaken the world’s financial system.
On the Trading Floor
Interactive Feature INTERACTIVE FEATURE: On the Trading Floor

Vikas Bajaj, who covers finance for The Times, offers an interactive tour of the New York Stock Exchange.
Echoes of a Dismal Past
Video VIDEO: Echoes of a Dismal Past

How does this financial crisis compare to the Great Depression?
Can a President Tame the Business Cycle?
Interactive Graphic INTERACTIVE GRAPHIC: Can a President Tame the Business Cycle?

Can voters reasonably expect economic indicators to change after a new president takes office in January?
The Debt Trap
Interactive Feature INTERACTIVE FEATURE: The Debt Trap

A series about the surge in consumer debt and the lenders who made it possible.

* Related Article: Banks Mine Data and Woo Troubled Borrowers