DETROIT (Reuters) – General Motors Co (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) posted a higher-than-expected second-quarter profit as it managed to hold prices steady in Europe despite the weak economy, and shifted some costs in North America to the third quarter.

GM said the deferred spending was related to the reallocation of advertising money around the Olympics, engineering costs related to the redesigned full-size trucks being launched next year and additional production downtime.

By Ben Klayman

(Reuters) – General Motors Co (GM.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) posted a stronger-than-expected quarterly profit as its loss in Europe was not as bad as feared, and its results were boosted by delayed spending in North America.

Analysts said GM’s North American outperformance added 14 cents to the second-quarter results, helping the company top Wall Street’s expectations by 16 cents. GM’s shares were little changed in early trading.

Aug 2 (Reuters) – General Motors Co posted a
stronger-than-expected quarterly profit as its loss in Europe
was not as bad as feared,
and its results were boosted by delayed spending in North
America.

Analysts said GM’s North American outperformance added 14
cents to the second-quarter results, helping the company top
Wall Street’s expectations by 16 cents. GM’s shares were little
changed in early trading.

DETROIT, July 30 (Reuters) – General Motors Co signed
a sponsorship deal with Manchester United on Monday after
rewording the terms negotiated with the popular English soccer
club by the U.S. automaker’s ousted global marketing chief.

Under the seven-year jersey sponsorship deal starting in
2014-2015 for the Chevrolet brand, GM will pay $60 million to
$70 million a year, said a person with knowledge of the contract
who asked not to be identified. GM also will pay the club a $100
million activation fee, making the deal’s total value worth as
much as $600 million, the person said.