BHP fails to win key political backing for Potash bid.

CNN and Eliot Spitzer prepare Oct. 4 debut of talkshow featuring the former NY state governor.

GMAC halts some evictions and sales of foreclosed homes as it corrects "a potential issue" in its foreclosure process.

Google, TiVo and Microsoft are racing to build an ad business for Web-connected TV spots.

HP and former CEO Mark Hurd settle lawsuit over his hiring by Oracle.Continue reading...

Having rebranded its GMAC Bank to Ally Bank last year and changing GMAC Financial Services to Ally Financial in May, GMAC is now rebranding its auto finance business as Ally. It's the latest move as the company looks to scrub the GMAC moniker entirely and adopt Ally across its business.

Ally provides financing for GM and Chrysler dealerships in North America, as well as their customers. This latest Ally rebranding move "comes at a time when relations between Ally and its former parent, General Motors Co., are souring," notes The Wall Street Journal.

Ally president Bill Muir told AP the move to the Ally name "allows us to invest in a brand that we own and can build upon for the long term."Continue reading...

GMAC Financial Services just announced that it would adopt the brand name of its little brother, Ally Bank. But that isn't stopping its former parent from wondering about a reconciliation.

A report has surfaced that General Motors wants to "buy back the auto financing business from the former GMAC Financial Services or start their own operations." Apparently, the "new" GM sees a competitive disadvantage from not being able to offer auto financing like its rivals Ford and Toyota.

GM currently can help a car buyer with financing through relationships with Ally Financial, as well as other banks and credit unions. But the automaker could be more competitive on leases and auto purchase deals with its own financing operation.Continue reading...

There was a time when being associated with the General Motors brand was prestigious. That, of course, was before the automaker's meltdown and subsequent bailout by the U.S. government.

About a year ago, the banking operation of GM, known as GMAC Bank, made a name change that was an obvious step to distance itself from the ailing giant, and banks in general, by rebranding as Ally Bank.

Ally Bank's ads have poked fun at the banking industry. Witness the seemingly trustworthy executive, above, conning two innocent young girls. He pulls a bait-and-switch with a toy pony and a real animal, prompting the pony-deprived tot to chastise him, daggers in her eyes.

The campaign's tagline, "It's just the right thing to do," reinforces the brand positioning of Ally Bank as veritable financial "good guy," unlike, say, the big bad banks who took advantage of consumers.

GMAC Financial Services now wants to leverage its sibling's rebranding halo, starting with its own name change to Ally as of May 10th.Continue reading...

Apple, under scrutiny from US regulators, is bringing the 3G iPhone to China.

US FDA agency is still probing kids medicine recall, as Tylenol maker "scrambles" to fix issue.

Microsoft is still pursuing tablet projects despite shelving Courier project, says Bill Gates.

Boeing's social media tutor: an 8-year-old.

Google's Chrome outpaces Firefox in the browser wars as IE loses share.

Starbucks remixes its Frappucino line.Continue reading...

On 80th anniversary of 1929 crash, US recession ends. [Guardian]

Volvo deal advances as Ford indicates preference for Geely's bid. [FT]

Google shakes up GPS industry by offering free service. [NY Times]

Google signs MySpace deal to include music in search. [Brand Republic]

Slowing Wii sales cause falling profits for Nintendo. [WSJ]

Regulation fears scotch National Express merger with Stagecoach. [Times of London]

(More headlines: GM, Motorola Droid, YSL.)Continue reading...