By John Crawley

By John Crawley

This hard-scrabble city's General Motors plant has withstood storms, the Great Depression and a world war. But it couldn't survive high gas prices.

With Russian troops pushing into Georgia, Keith Harrison was working his e-mail back in Cincinnati.

GMAC Financial Services said Monday that it tightened its criteria for consumer automotive financing, citing the continued upheaval in the lending industry.

Stocks bounced back from their worst week ever with one of their best performances in history as investors cheered a global cash infusion designed to unthaw the credit market and avoid a global meltdown.  The Dow gained more than 900 points, its biggest one-day point gain ever.

Chrysler has had talks with General Motors about a deal to combine the No. 1 and No. 3 American automakers at a time when both are struggling to cut costs and shore up cash, sources have said.

Nissan Motor Co. is laying off 1,680 workers at one of its plants in Spain because of poor demand, a company official said Monday.

Stocks bounced back from their worst week ever as investors cheered a series of measures and cash injections by governments and central banks designed to prop up the banking sector and avoid a global meltdown. The Dow was up nearly 500 points, or more than 5.5 percent.

Shares of General Motors jumped almost 18 percent on Monday after reports the No. 1 U.S. automaker had been in merger talks in recent weeks with smaller rivals Ford Motor and Chrysler. GM also said that it will shut down its Wisconsin assembly plant by year-end in response to slumping demand for SUVs.

Shares of General Motors Corp jumped almost 18 percent on Monday after reports the No. 1 U.S. automaker had been in merger talks in recent weeks with smaller rivals Ford Motor Co and Chrysler LLC.

Stocks rallied at the opening bell Monday following a series of measures and cash injections by governments and central banks designed to prop up the banking sector and avoid a global meltdown. The Dow was up about 400 points, or 5 percent, within the first few minutes of  trading.

DETROIT (Reuters) - Shares of General Motors Corp jumped almost 18 percent on Monday after reports the No. 1 U.S. automaker had been in merger talks in recent weeks with smaller rivals Ford Motor Co and Chrysler LLC.

Chevrolet said Monday it is pricing its 2010 Camaro sports car starting at $22,995 for its V-6 model, and $30,995 for its V-8 model.

Chinese automakers Chery Automobile Co and SAIC Motor <600104.SS> said on Monday they have not had talks about possible access to Chrysler's U.S. dealership network with Cerberus Capital Management LP <CBS.UL>, majority owner of the troubled U.S. car maker.