Russia's international reserves rose $6.1 billion last week as the central bank bought foreign currency to slow down the rise of the ruble as oil prices increase.  The Moscow Times reports upon efforts to reduce Russia's dependence upon imported poultry by developing the domestic industry.  A lawsuit launched by a car dealer against the government's increase in tariffs on used cars has been rejected.  Debt-addled car manufacturer AvtoVAZ has approved a cost-cutting anti-crisis plan and the company will spend $2.54 billion from 2010 to 2012 to bolster sales.  The government continues its attempts to support the car industry; the Industry and Trade Ministry has proposed doubling the price ceiling for buying cars that could be subsidized by the government.  In the bid for Opel, carmaker GAZ reportedly has the role of 'industrial partner' in Canadian ...

HIDDEN VALUE

Dear Value Seeker,

Sometimes words speak louder than actions.

Especially when it’s the Fed’s words.

Today, market watchers are on the lookout for clues about how the Fed is going to tackle deflation.

A rate cut of at least 0.5% is already in the can as far the pundits are concerned.

But with consumer prices plunging, investors expect the Fed to signal more emphasis on more unorthodox ways of ‘stimulating’ the economy.

According to MarketWatch, “The bottom line on Fed policy is supply of money. The Fed typically targets the price of money but, with the price so low, it will focus on increasing the quantity of money through its balance sheet.”

Not that the Fed hasn’t tried this already.

It has doubled the size of its balance sheet to over $2 trillion since September.

As Bud Conrad at Casey Research notes, “Mostly under the covers, [the Fed]

...

If you like the car, will you love the company?

When it comes to Ford Motor Co. (F), a Canadian car dealer bet a month’s sales on that premise.

Rose City Ford dealership owner John Chisholm offered 100 shares of Ford stock to anyone who bought a new or used vehicle from the dealership during the month of November, the Windsor Star newspaper reported. Chisholm, the president and general manager of Rose City, said he got the idea from a General Motors Co. (GM) dealership in Texas that offered GM shares for each vehicle sold. So Chisholm opted to try it in Windsor, the Ontario, Canada city where Ford has both a long history and deep community roots.

“What a great way to show our confidence in the company,” Chisholm, who employs 80 at a

...

[“Hot Stocks” is a new Money Morning feature that analyzes the investment outlook of global companies that are in the news. This is the eighth installment of this ongoing investment series.] Money Morning Staff Reports If you like the car, will you love the company? When it comes to Ford Motor Co. (F), a Canadian car dealer bet a month’s sales on that premise. Rose City Ford dealership owner John Chisholm offered 100 shares of Ford stock to anyone who bought a new or used vehicle from the dealership during the month of November, the Windsor Star newspaper reported. Chisholm, the president and general manager of Rose City, said he got the idea from a General Motors Co. (GM) dealership in Texas that offered GM shares for ...