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The Latest Headlines:

• Survey: Economic Growth to Slow in 4Q, 2005
• Wabash to Sell Up to 3 Million Shares
• Dana Lowers 2004 Forecast
• ArvinMeritor Deal Receives EU Approval

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Survey: Economic Growth to Slow in 4Q, 2005

A survey of economists found that record oil prices and sluggish job growth would restrain the U.S. economy in the fourth quarter and into 2005, Bloomberg reported.

The economy will grow 4% in the third quarter, but slowed to 3.8% in the fourth quarter, according to a Bloomberg survey of 63 economists.

Economists trimmed the fourth-quarter forecast by 0.2 percentage point compared with last month, but raised the projection for the quarter just ended by 0.3 percentage point.

The survey also found the economy would grow 3.6% next year, down from 4.4% for all of 2004. Transport Topics

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Wabash to Sell Up to 3 Million Shares

Truck maker Wabash National Corp. said late Tuesday it filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to sell up to 3 million shares of common stock through a public offering.

Wabash said in a statement it would use net proceeds to repay debt.

The company also said 450,000 additional shares may be sold to cover an over-allotment option. Transport Topics

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Dana Lowers 2004 Forecast

Vehicle parts maker Dana Corp. said its 2004 earnings would be $1.60 to $1.65 per share, down from its previous estimate of $1.90.

"Like most in our industry, we are being impacted by the rising cost of steel and other raw materials, as well as reduced North American light-vehicle production volumes," said Dana Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael Burns.

Earlier this year, Dana said it would to sell its automotive replacement parts unit to Cypress Group LLC for $1.1 billion. Transport Topics

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ArvinMeritor Deal Receives EU Approval

Vehicle parts supplier ArvinMeritor Inc. said Oct. 4 it had received approval from the European Union to buy majority stakes in two Volvo AB parts plants in France.

The ventures should be operating by the end of the year, ArvinMeritor said, boosting its axle production for Volvo to 300,000 annually from 100,000.

ArvinMeritor said in September it would buy 51% of Volvo’s axle plants in St. Priest and its foundry in Venissieux. Volvo entered the agreement with ArvinMeritor to cut costs, spokesman Marten Wikforss told Bloomberg News. Transport Topics

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