UPDATE 2-CEO's comments raised at Whole Foods hearing

(Reuters) - WASHINGTON, July 31 - An economist for Whole
Foods Market Inc was forced on Tuesday to grapple with
the past comments of the company's chief executive as he
testified against government efforts to block the acquisition
of Wild Oats Markets Inc .




Whole Foods economist David Scheffman was asked how he
could square his benign view of the merger with the statements
of Whole Foods CEO John Mackey, who told the company's board of
directors in an e-mail the deal would prevent "nasty" price
wars with Wild Oats and head off future competition with
conventional supermarket chains.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Yahoo posts lower profit, gives weak 2007 forecast

(Reuters) - Shares in the Internet media company fell 4.2 percent in extended trade.




Jerry Yang, the company's co-founder who took the CEO job in a June management shakeup, promised a new strategic plan as he sought to convince investors he is open to change and able to take on rapidly growing rival Google Inc. .


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

Ford to invest 675 mln euros in Romania carmaker

(Reuters) - "If the Ford bid is successful, the company would commit to investing 675 million euros in the site to upgrade and modernize the plant in line with global Ford Motor Company standards," Ford said in a statement.




Ford's strategy for the Craiova-based plant was discussed on Monday at meetings between Romania Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu and Ford of Europe President and CEO John Fleming.


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Apple IPhone, Must-Have for Technophiles, May Be Tougher Sell for Parents

(Bloomberg) -- Yahoo! Inc. Chief Executive Officer
Jerry Yang wants an iPhone. Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff
plans to trade in his Motorola Inc. Razr for one. Chuck Jones
not only doesn't want one, he also isn't about to spend $1,000
or more to get iPhones for his two daughters.

While technophiles clamor for Apple Inc.'s combination
mobile phone and music player, some regular consumers like Jones
are less enthusiastic. The iPhone is pricier than rivals, lacks
the keyboard used by text messagers and works only on an AT&T
Inc. network. Parents also may balk at the $200 penalty to
switch wireless carriers, no matter how much their kids beg.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

Apple's IPhone, Must-Have for Technopiles, May Be Tougher Sell for Parents

(Bloomberg) -- Yahoo! Inc. Chief Executive Officer
Jerry Yang wants an iPhone. Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff
plans to trade in his Motorola Inc. Razr for one. Chuck Jones
not only doesn't want one, he also isn't about to spend $1,000
or more to get iPhones for his two daughters.

While technophiles clamor for Apple Inc.'s combination
mobile phone and music player, some regular consumers like Jones
are less enthusiastic. The iPhone is pricier than rivals, lacks
the keyboard used by text messagers and works only on an AT&T
Inc. network. Parents also may balk at the $200 penalty to
switch wireless carriers, no matter how much their kids beg.


Read more at Bloomberg Exclusive News

UPDATE 1-Healing conflict at World Bank not easy -Zoellick

(Reuters) - BRASILIA, June 18 - Healing the wounds and
conflicts at the World Bank will be a difficult task in the
aftermath of an ethics scandal, Robert Zoellick, the bank's
likely next president, said on Monday.




"My role as a potential CEO is to try to heal this
institution, overcome some of the conflicts, the bruises, the
wounding, the frustrations," Zoellick told a news conference in
the Brazilian capital at the end of a two-week tour through
Africa, Europe and Latin America.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Anglo to spend $3.5 bln in Africa over 5 yrs - CEO

(Reuters) - Anglo American Plc, the world's third biggest mining group, plans to inject $3.5 billion of new investment into Africa over the next five years, its chief executive said on Wednesday.

Cynthia Carroll, the CEO of Anglo, said her firm would pump the money into several exploration and mining projects across the continent, which she said is seeing strong growth and reduced political risk.


Read more at Reuters Africa

GE Real Estate seeks Finnish property buys: report

(Reuters) - "We are not interested in single properties, but we want to buy a large portfolio in Finland," CEO Michael Pralle told Finnish financial daily Kauppalehti.




"We lost Kapiteeli, but we will try again," he said, adding that it would be ideal to buy "local know-how".


Read more at Reuters.com Business News

UPDATE 3-GM CEO touts progress at annual meeting

(Reuters) - Speaking to investors CEO Rick Wagoner said GM, which lost
more than $12 billion in the past two years, had made "major
progress" in its restructuring -- a plan that includes slashing
more than 34,000 jobs and closing 12 plants.




GM cut structural costs by $6.8 billion in 2006 and Wagoner
told shareholders the automaker is on track to reach its target
of cutting those costs by an additional $2.2 billion this year.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

Target CFO reiterates full-year profit forecast

(Reuters) - Scovanner made the same comment in February.




Also on the conference call, CEO Robert Ulrich said the
retailer does not see any near-term economic indications that
give it an undue amount of concern.


Read more at Reuters.com Market News