BRIEFCASE 0% CAR LOANS BUOY DEALERS' MORALE.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

WESTLAKE VILLAGE - Dealer satisfaction with automotive finance providers is at a record high, fueled by zero-percent financing and accelerated auto sales, according to a J.D. Power and Associates survey released Tuesday.

The study concluded that 73 percent of dealer principals are satisfied with their financial provider. Based on responses from more than 5,700 dealers, the survey found that dealer satisfaction increased the most with banks.

BMW announces SUV, Mini recalls

FRANKFURT, Germany - Officials of German luxury automaker BMW said Tuesday that they will recall 56,000 X5 sport utility vehicles and 38,700 Minis worldwide to fix transmission and brake problems that had not yet caused any crashes or injuries.

BMW officials said more than 40 percent of some 87,000 Minis by the end of June will have to be repaired. Almost one-third of 187,000 X5s delivered will also have to be adjusted.

Vanguard Airlines suspends service

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Vanguard Airlines suspended operations Tuesday, saying it would lay off nearly all its employees and file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization.

The Kansas City-based discount carrier has never shown an annual profit in eight years of operation. A recorded announcement on its reservation line early Tuesday said all Tuesday and Wednesday flights had been canceled and all other flights scheduled after that have been suspended indefinitely.

Vanguard had limited service from Los Angeles International Airport.

Global Crossing may get new offer

Hutchison Whampoa of Hong Kong has renewed its interest in Global Crossing, the insolvent communications company, and is expected to submit an offer this week to buy it out of bankruptcy, people involved in the bidding process said Tuesday.

A bid from Hutchison, a conglomerate controlled by billionaire investor Li Ka-Shing, would bring the company back into the fold of groups interested in acquiring Global Crossing after it abruptly dropped out of the bidding in May.

Buyer confidence dips, still strong

NEW YORK - Consumers' confidence in the economy was buffeted this month by the stock market drop, corporate scandals and the slow increase in available jobs, a private research group reported Tuesday.

The New York-based Conference Board said its Consumer Confidence Index fell to 97.1 from a revised 106.3 in June. Analysts had been expecting a reading of 101.5.

However, economists said consumer confidence was still relatively strong, and that the decline in the index was mostly an indicator of a poor stock market for most of the month.

Microsoft, AT&T to announce deal

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. and AT&T Wireless planned to announce today that they will begin offering new wireless services to business customers, sources said.

The deal means that within the past 18 months, Microsoft has forged partnerships with at least five major wireless carriers in the United States to carry a cell phone or wireless device that runs a Microsoft operating software.

The deal calls for both Redmond, Wash.-based companies to develop software and services that will let business users access their corporate e-mail, calendars, data and other business applications, said sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The two companies refused to comment. Microsoft chief executive Steve Ballmer was to announce a wireless business initiative in New York this morning, according to a Microsoft press release.