To improve the fuel economy of its future cars and trucks, the automaker is investing in a company that has designed a new type of lightweight, high-strength steel.

The automaker is planning to open nine new plants in its Asia Pacific Africa region.

Brazilian federal oil company Petroleo Brasileiro (PBR, PETR4.BR), or Petrobras, expects to ramp up asset sales in its $14 billion divestment plan in the second half of 2012, Chief Financial Officer Almir Barbassa said Monday.

The summer lull that has befallen the euro and euro-zone bond markets is unlikely to last as more details emerge about the European Central Bank's latest plan to tackle the region's debt crisis.

HCA Holdings Inc. (HCA) announced Monday a surge in second-quarter earnings amid stronger patient volumes, but the hospital operator also disclosed a couple of inquiries involving heart-procedure practices and other issues that raised concerns and weighed on its stock price.

Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC (MRW.LN), an operator of supermarket chains, said Monday it purchased through Jefferies International Ltd 550,000 ordinary shares at an average price of 277.853 pence per share, adding that these shares will be cancelled.

Time Warner Inc.'s (TWX) Turner Broadcasting division has acquired The Bleacher Report in an effort to ramp up its online sports news content, the company said Monday.

British American Tobacco PLC (BATS.LN) Monday said it purchased 120,000 ordinary shares on Aug. 6.

U.S. airplane maker Boeing Co. (BA) is bidding in a South African Airways tender to update its airplane fleet as the Africa market looks poised for take off.

These nine stocks reached 52-week highs: The share price of Kraft Foods (NASDAQ:KFT) climbed today, reaching and then surpassing its previous 52-week high of $40.89.