Guests at National Summit sound downbeat theme

Ford, the grandson of the company founder, industry giant Henry Ford, said he expected the U.S. government’s ownership of General Motors Corp would continue for “some time” — suggesting the quick but controversial trip through bankruptcy that Chrysler LLC enjoyed would not be repeated.

Bill Ford, Jr. is the son of Bill Ford, Sr., who is the son of Edsel Ford, who was the son of company founder, Henry Ford. By my reckoning, that makes Bill Ford Jr. Henry’s great-grandson, not his grandson.

J.P.

You’re right. We corrected: GBU Editor

Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford talks with the media during The National Summit at the Renaissance Center in Detroit, Michigan June 15, 2009. REUTERS/Rebecca Cook

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Accenture to shift incorporation to Ireland

Ireland is expected to benefit along with Switzerland as companies seek more hospital conditions in Europe.

They are moving because of “hospital conditions”? I didn’t realize the health care was a reason to move corporations…perhaps you meant “Hospitable”….

J.K.

Ouch. Yes. We corrected: GBU Editor

Bill Green, the chairman and chief executive of consulting firm Accenture Ltd, speaks during a news conference in Mumbai April 22, 2008. REUTERS/Arko Datta

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GM bondholders shun tender offer; bankruptcy nears

The event marks a critical disappointment for GM, the largest U.S. automaker and once considered the bellwether of U.S. manufacturing. A popular ad for the automaker once stated that “What’s good for General Motors, is good for the USA.”

I don’t think there ever was such an ad. This quote, or a version of it, was said in 1952 when the head of GM was testifying to become secretary of defense. Later this statement was often misquoted, suggesting that Wilson had said simply, “What’s good for General Motors is good for the country.”

Ed. N.

Several readers noticed this one. We did too, and we removed it from subsequent updates of the story: GBU Editor

REUTERS photo by Mike Cassese

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BofA CEO: Economy bottoming, pay reform needed

Bank of America was among 19 big banks subjected to the teats.

Subjected to the teats?

Justin R.

Yikes. We corrected it to say TESTS: GBU Editor

Bank of America Chief Executive Officer Kenneth Lewis speaks at the Boston College CEO club luncheon in Boston, Massachusetts March 12, 2009. Reuters/Brian Snyder

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Implications of Japan opposition leader quitting

Former party leader Katsuya Okada, often cited as a frontrunner, has in the past favoured a hike in the three percent sales tax to fund bulging social security costs, a move Ozawa had ruled out for now.

I’d like to report a factual error.  Your article mentions a ”hike in the three percent sales tax to fund bulging social security costs.”

In fact Japan’s sales tax is currently five percent.

C. A.

Yes. We corrected: GBU Editor

Japanese opposition leader Ichiro Ozawa attends a news conference at the headquarters of the Democratic Party of Japan in Tokyo, May 11, 2009. Japanese opposition leader Ozawa told his party on Monday he will resign to try to restore the party’s prospects in a looming election, after a fundraising scandal dampened its hopes for victory.  REUTERS/Issei Kato

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One in 10 Americans gets help from U.S. to buy food

The U.S. unemployment rate was 8.1 percent in February, the highest in 25 years. Weekly claims for jobless benefits totaled 669,000 last week, the highest in 26 years, the government said on Thursday.

Your report incorrectly states unemployment figures. It states, “Weekly claims for jobless benefits totaled 669,000 last week, the highest in 26 years, the government said on Thursday.” That figure is not the total weekly claims but only new, initial claims. Total number of claims is much, much higher than this figure.

Blair

Yes. We corrected: GBU Editor

A group of laid-off workers meet during a recruitment event at a pub in New York March 25, 2009. The group calls itself “The 405 Club”, referring to the $405 weekly maximum unemployment benefit in New York. REUTERS/Eric Thayer

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Fox News’ Bill O’Reilly boycotting Sean Penn films

And the Barney Frank thing (in which O’Reilly called Frank a “coward” during an October debate over Fannie May and Freddie Mac). But I really wasn’t angry; I just needed to scold him because he was blaming everyone else, even though some of this economic mess is his fault.

It’s Fannie Mae not MAY!!!

B.W.

Right. We corrected: GBU Editor

Daniel Mudd, former CEO of Fannie Mae, testifies at a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, December 9, 2008. REUTERS/Jason Reed

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SEC accuses Caribbean bank of $68 mln Ponzi scheme

“The defendants disguised their Ponzi scheme as a legitimate offshore investment and made promises about exuberant returns that were just too good to be true,” said Rose Romero, head of the SEC’s regional office in Fort Worth. “This case demonstrates that investors need to be especially cautious when placing money with entities that may be outside the reach of U.S. regulators.”

Who writes this stuff for you guys??? YOU ARE KIDDING RIGHT?????

Arthur V.

Several readers pointed out the rich irony of letting an official imply that money WITHIN the reach of U.S. regulators is somehow safe. They have a point: GBU Editor

Madoff victim, Sharon Lissauer  talks to reporters as she leaves the Manhattan federal courthouse in New York, March 12, 2009. Multimillionaire swindler Bernard Madoff is leaving the luxury of his Manhattan penthouse to become just another inmate in a crowded jail. The 70-year-old former Nasdaq chairman pleaded guilty to fraud on Thursday in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in history. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

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Brazil stocks rise; real flat on housing plan, US

SAO PAULO, March 25 (Reuters) - Brazil’s stocks gained on Wednesday following the government’s announcement of a massive low-income housing plan and stronger than expected U.S. durable goods sales in February, while the currency traded sideways.

In the title… “real” flat? As opposed to “fake” flat? The word to use is “really”. Learn proper English, please.

Y.S.

There was nothing wrong with our headline. The real is Brazil’s currency: GBU Editor

A Brazilian changes reals for dollars in a exchange house in Rio de Janeiro in a 2004 file photo. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos

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U.S. business leaders say hobbled by healthcare costs

The Business Roundtable, which represents the largest U.S. corporations, released a study showing that for every $100 spent in the United States on healthcare, a group of five leading economic competitors — Canada, Japan, Germany, the United Kingdom and France — spend about 63 cents.

The article states that for every $100 dollars spent by the US on healthcare, 5 chief competitors spend 66 cents. I think they’ve changed their units mid-stream and that it should be $66 dollars per $100 or 66 cents per dollar.

D.R.

A number of readers noticed this one. We corrected: GBU Editor

2007 file photo by REUTERS/Jim Bourg