BusinessAP Money Minute: AOL Radio, Oil, FordAP Money Minute: AOL Radio, Oil, FordThe Associated PressAOL is revamping its popular online radio service, adding streams from all 140 CBS-owned stations. AP's Mark Hamrick reports on that and the rest of Tuesday's top business headlines. (June 10)AP Money MinuteA retreat in oil prices failed to keep investors from fretting over the effect of high energy costs on the U.S. economy.Light, sweet crude futures, which traded above $137 a barrel early in the day, dropped back below $132 on reports of a stronger dollar and the U.S. government reducing its oil consumption forecast. And although investors got some temporary relief from oil's steady rise, their long-term concerns remain that high energy costs could stymie consumer spending and overall economic growth. -------------------------------Ford investors flocked to Kirk Kerkorian's offer to buy 20 million additional shares of the company for about $170 million, a move that will help the billionaire investor increase his stake in the automaker to about 5.5 percent. Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. says its tender offer of $8.50 a share drew overtures of more than 1 billion of the company's shares, or nearly half of Ford's outstanding stock. Analysts said the enthusiastic response was not surprising given the trajectory of Ford's stock price in recent weeks. ----------------------------------AOL is revamping its popular online radio service, adding streams from all 140 CBS-owned stations Much is at stake for AOL, which is looking for new ways to boost revenues from online music streaming, which has yet to become profitable. The addition of CBS stations will bring a number of highly rated news, talk and sports channels to the portal. CBS will also use its vast advertising sales force to sell all ads across the AOL radio service.I'm Mark Hamrick with AP Money Minute(****END****)

From the "should have been Oscar winning" Original Score of "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford".Composed by Nick Cave & Warren Ellis - [The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) OST]

BusinessMoney Minute: OOXML, Snoose and FordMoney Minute: OOXML, Snoose and FordThe Associated PressSouth Africa is appealing a decision to make Microsoft's Office Open XML format an internationally recognized standard for electronic documents. AP's Mark Hamrick reports on that and the rest of Wednesday's top business headlines. (May 28)AP Money Minute. South Africa is appealing a decision to make Microsoft's Office Open XML format an internationally recognized standard for electronic documents.Supporters of a rival format called OpenDocument Format have claimed that Microsoft used strong-arm tactics to win approval from the national committees and say OOXML still locks out competitors.The appeal means Microsoft will have to wait at least another month before knowing for sure whether the file format is approved as an open standard.---------------------As cigarette sales continue to decline, the Altria Group said it will deal with fewer cigarette sales by capitalizing on its Marlboro brand and selling more smokeless products. Chief Executive Michael Szymanczyk (suh-MAN-sihk) said the company has made "remarkable progress" in its testing and marketing of its Marlboro-branded moist smokeless tobacco and spitless product called snus (snoose).Szymanczyk made the comments at Altria's first shareholder meeting since the March spinoff of its international cigarette business.------------------------Ford plans to conduct involuntary layoffs of salaried employees as part of a restructuring in the face of slumping sales and record-high gas prices.The company hasn't yet determined how many white-collar jobs will be cut, but stressed that this round won't involve any voluntary buyout packages with financial or early retirement incentives. The company wants the cuts completed by Aug. 1, which is says is not enough time to roll out voluntary offers and wait for employees to accept them.I'm Mark Hamrick with AP Money Minute ___ ___, The Associated Press.(****END****)

BusinessMoney Minute: Foreclosures, Ford, VerizonMoney Minute: Foreclosures, Ford, VerizonThe Associated PressAccording to foreclosure listing service RealtyTrac, more than 261,000 homes received at least one foreclosure-related filing in May. That's up 7 percent from April and nearly 50 percent higher compared with a year earlier. (June 13)AP Money MinuteThe foreclosure rate has risen again. According to foreclosure listing service RealtyTrac, more than 261,000 homes received at least one foreclosure-related filing in May. That's up 7 percent from April and nearly 50 percent higher compared with a year earlier. The news comes as criticism mounts that efforts by government and the mortgage industry to stem the tide of foreclosures aren't keeping up with the rising number of troubled homeowners. ----------------------- Ford managers have told union officials that the automaker will have to further reduce the size of its factory work force to deal with the rapidly shifting U.S. auto market. The slumping economy has cut U.S. auto sales by 8 percent during the first five months of the year. Ford says high gas prices are sending consumers away from trucks and sport utility vehicles toward more fuel-efficient cars. Earlier this year, Ford announced corporate-wide buyout and early retirement offers for U.S. hourly workers, but only 4,200 took the offers. Ford said those offers will be extended to the newly affected workers.-------------------------------- ----In response to households dropping traditional service in favor of cell phones, Verizon is set to give discounts to wireless customers who don't have landlines but order Internet or TV service from the phone company. Verizon's Flex Double Play bundle will give monthly discounts from $8 to $12 a month for those who combine a Verizon Wireless plan with broadband or FiOS TV. Surveys point to about one in seven U.S. households now lacking landlines.I'm Mark Hamrick with AP Money Minute

BusinessMoney Minute: Crude Slips, Ford and MoreMoney Minute: Crude Slips, Ford and MoreThe Associated PressThe Labor Department says jobless claims fell by 5,000 last week, after surging 27,000 the previous week. But the small improvement wasn't enough to keep the four-week average from rising to 375,250. (June 19)[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE] AP Money MinuteThe Labor Department says jobless claims fell by 5,000 last week, after surging 27,000 the previous week. But the small improvement wasn't enough to keep the four-week average from rising to 375,250. The New York-based Conference Board meanwhile said its economic indicators - a measure of future economic activity rose one-tenth of a percent in May - another sign that higher fuel and food price are stifling the economy.------------------------------Bi llionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. has increased its stake in Ford Motor Co. to six and a half percent. With the increase,Tracinda now owns close to 141 million Ford shares.Tracinda says it it may propose business strategies for Ford as well as provide a capital infusion to aid the automaker's turnaround effort.------------------------------Oil prices dropped sharply after China said it will raise fuel prices, a move that could dampen the booming Asian nation's oil consumption. Prices also were given a downward push by the Iraqi Oil Ministry's announcement that it is close to signing deals with several major Western oil companies in an effort to boost output. Light, sweet crude for July delivery fell $4.75 to settle at $131.93 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.I'm James Limbach with AP Money Minute(****END****)

Neel Kashkari, a former Goldman Sachs executive has been named interim head of the government's $700 billion rescue effort for financial institutions. The AP's Mark Hamrick reports. (Oct. 6)

Here are the AP top money stories for Dec. 10: Ford says it can survive without government bailout; Office Depot to shutter more than 100 stores; KFC to rollout 'Kentucky Grilled Chicken.'