AP Executive Morning Briefing

The top business news from The Associated Press for the morning of Monday, October 8, 2007:

UAW, Chrysler Make Progress on Talks

DETROIT (AP) _ The United Auto Workers put Chrysler LLC on notice that a strike is possible if contract talks stall, a person briefed on the talks said, but a labor expert said the union's action could be a bargaining tactic. The union on Sunday gave Chrysler a 72-hour notice of a potential strike, the person said, but it was unclear exactly whether the notice would end on Tuesday or Wednesday.

___

Wall Street Looks to Earnings Reports

NEW YORK (AP) _ Now that Wall Street is more upbeat about the economy after this summer's upheaval in the financial markets, it's looking for evidence that corporate America is thriving, too. This week brings the first wave of third-quarter corporate earnings reports. Investors are already bracing for dim results _ Standard & Poor's anticipates a slight decline in total earnings-per-share for S&P 500 companies. But the S&P is forecasting fourth-quarter growth of more than 10 percent, so the outlooks companies issue will be crucial.

___

Finance Ministers Discuss Dollar Woes

BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) _ European Union finance ministers open two days of talks Monday to discuss the United States' slowing economy, feeble dollar and massive current account deficit as major problems for the EU and the rest of the world. Europe is starting to feel the bite as the U.S. dollar plummets, making French wine, Italian fashion and German cars expensive purchases for the EU's main export market in the U.S.

___

American Seeks to Halt Worker Pay Raises

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) _ American Airlines, profitable again after racking up $8 billion in losses since 2001, faces a three-front battle to limit labor costs that are among the highest in the industry. The three unions representing American's employees want to make up for double-digit wage and benefit cuts back in 2003, when the company was on the brink of bankruptcy. They argue that their sacrifices saved the nation's largest airline and they deserve to be rewarded now with big pay raises.

___

New Chrysler Marketing Head Enthusiastic

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP) _ Chrysler's new marketing chief says the chance to turn around an American icon was an irresistible _ and, some say, nearly impossible _ challenge that lured her away from Toyota. "The chance to really work and develop and expand those brands and take them to the next level is the opportunity of a lifetime," Deborah Wahl Meyer told The Associated Press on Friday as she began her second month on the job at Chrysler LLC. "You don't have many of those chances in your career."

___

Mortgage Slump Hits Home Decor Industry

HIGH POINT, N.C. (AP) _ Doug Schock shook his head in disbelief while gazing at the empty bank of elevators, typically full as they shuttle thousands of buyers between dozens of showrooms filled with the latest styles in sofas, bedroom sets, and dining room tables and chairs. Not so this fall at the High Point Market _ the twice-annual home decor and furnishings trade show that sets the table for what consumers will see in stores next season.

___

Oil Prices Slip Below $81 a Barrel

SINGAPORE (AP) _ Oil prices slipped lower Monday in Asia on renewed concerns an impending economic slowdown could dent demand for crude and petroleum products. Light, sweet crude for November delivery fell 39 cents to $80.83 a barrel in Asian electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange by midmorning in Singapore. The contract fell 22 cents to settle at $81.22 a barrel Friday in New York.

___

Average Price for Gas Down 4 Cents

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) _ The average price for gasoline in the U.S. dropped about 4 cents over the last two weeks, according to a national survey released Sunday. The average price of regular gasoline on Friday was $2.75 a gallon, mid-grade was $2.87 and premium was $2.99, oil industry analyst Trilby Lundberg said. ___

Boom, Bust in Area Beset by Foreclosures

QUEEN CREEK, Ariz. (AP) _ Out on Phoenix's suburban fringes, where cement mixers are fast colonizing what's left of the hay and cotton fields, the day is winding to a close. The home hour has arrived. But sundown gives away a troubling secret: Behind dark windows and many unanswered doors, it's clear nobody is coming home. The ranch home on Via del Palo where the newspaper in the driveway has been sitting unclaimed since April. The house at the corner of 223rd Court with faded fliers stuck in the door. The two-story on Via del Rancho with the phone book on the step.

___

MSNBC Interactive News Acquires Newsvine

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) _ MSNBC Interactive News LLC said it acquired Newsvine Inc., a small Seattle startup that lets visitors read and comment on news stories from mainstream media outlets.

___

Gold Prices

LONDON (AP) _ Gold bullion opened Monday at a bid price of $739.05 a troy ounce, up from $737.20 late Friday.

___

Japan Markets

TOKYO (AP) _ Japanese financial markets were closed Monday for Health and Sports Day, a national holiday. Markets reopen on Tuesday.

___

A service of The Associated Press. Copyright 2007 All rights reserved.