Business Highlights

The Associated Press

___

Euro ministers cautious on Greek bailout deal

BRUSSELS (AP) — Hours after Greece made the unpopular decision to slash government spending in an attempt to ease its debt crisis, Germany's finance minister questioned Thursday whether the deal goes far enough to earn a crucial $172 billion bailout.

Greece's new austerity plan would make deep cuts to wages and public sector jobs and it ignited new criticism from unions and the country's deputy labor minister, who resigned in protest.

But finance ministers from the other 16 countries that use the euro at a meeting in Brussels indicated that even those painful steps may not be enough to get Greece's economy back on track.

___

$25 billion settlement reached over foreclosure abuses

WASHINGTON (AP) — A landmark $25 billion settlement with the nation's top mortgage lenders was hailed by government officials Thursday as long-overdue relief for victims of foreclosure abuses. But consumer advocates countered that far too few people will benefit.

The deal will reduce loans for only a fraction of those Americans who owe more than their homes are worth. It will also send checks to others who were improperly foreclosed upon. But the amounts are modest.

And few think the deal will do much to help struggling homeowners keep their homes or to benefit those who have already lost theirs.

About 11 million households are underwater, meaning they owe more than their homes are worth. The settlement would help 1 million of them.

___

2 Key leaders in Ford's renaissance will retire

DETROIT (AP) — Two key leaders in Ford's remarkable turnaround are retiring.

Lewis Booth, chief financial officer, and Derrick Kuzak, product development chief, will leave the company April 1.

The moves, in the works for months, raised questions about how long CEO Alan Mulally, 66, will stay in his job and whether Ford can continue its renaissance under new executives.