Reuters - U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson said on Monday he hoped a plan to spare homeowners facing mortgage-rate spikes would be ready by week's end and expressed faith the economy would dodge recession despite the deep housing slump.

Reuters - Federal Reserve policy-makers on Monday gave a sober assessment of the U.S. economy as renewed financial market turmoil cast a shadow on growth prospects.

Reuters - U.S. auto sales slipped in November, led by an 11 percent drop at General Motors Corp , as a weak housing market and higher gasoline prices kept buyers from showrooms and heightened concern that the industry was headed for a deepening downturn.

Reuters - Mobile phone maker Motorola Inc , which announced last week that Chief Executive Ed Zander will step down, said on Monday its chief technology officer, Padmasree Warrior, had left the company to pursue other opportunities.

Reuters - Countrywide Financial Corp Chief Executive Angelo Mozilo said on Monday he doesn't expect the largest U.S. mortgage lender to file for bankruptcy protection, saying the "elements are certainly not there."

Reuters - Discover Financial Services , the credit card company spun off by Morgan Stanley five months ago, said on Monday that it would take a charge to write off part of its Goldfish credit card business in Britain, where consumer credit has deteriorated.

Reuters - Retailers should report improved monthly sales on Thursday helped by November's cooler weather and the Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend.