NATION

NATION
GM reports earningsof $425M in 3rd quarter
DETROIT -- General Motors Corp. earned $425 million in the third quarter in contrast to a loss of $804 million in the period a year ago, when it incurred a $1.37 billion expense related to its investment in Fiat Auto Holdings.
But earnings from GM's global automotive operations dropped dramatically to $34 million last quarter from $368 million a year ago. GM said its U.S. market share rose to 28.7 percent in the quarter, compared with 28 percent in the same period last year and 27.9 percent in the second quarter of 2003.
Delphi's 3rd quartermarked by $353M loss
TROY, Mich. -- Delphi Corp. reported a net loss of $353 million for the third quarter, including restructuring costs of $356 million related to employee and product line reductions. Excluding the charge, the company earned $3 million during the quarter, compared with earnings of $54 million a year ago.
Delphi, the parent of Warren-based Delphi Packard Electric Systems, had sales of $6.6 billion last quarter, compared with $6.4 billion a year earlier.
SBC to offer long distancein Ohio and 3 other states
WASHINGTON -- Phone customers in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin will get one more long-distance choice as early as Oct. 24.
On that date, the Federal Communications Commission will allow SBC Communications Inc. to begin offering long-distance service to customers in those states. SBC, formerly known as Ameritech, had been pushing for years for that right.
Market analysts said the change, approved by FCC officials Wednesday, should mean better deals on long distance for customers because of increased competition.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports