Media Digest 8/19/2008 Reuters, WSJ, NYTImes, FT, Bloomberg

According to Reuters, Lehman (LEH) is considering selling it Neuberger Berman asset management unit.

Reuters writes that bail-out concerns pushed down stocks in Fannie Mae (FNM) and Freddie Mac (FRE).

Reuters reports that the former head economist of the IMF said a large US bank will fail.

Reuters reports that GM (GM) has returned to aggressive incentives.

The Wall Street Journal reports that some smaller brokerage firms are trying to fight buying back auction rate securites by saying that they were not part of the market which traded them.

The Wall Street Journal writes that a Merck (MRK) trial to test Vioxx side effects was done mostly for marketing purposes.

The Wall Street Journal reports that they way Nvidia (NVDA) is handling problems with some of its chips is upsetting critics.

The Wall Street Journal reports that grain and soybean futures are rising again.

The Wall Street Journal writes that the FDIC is pressuring other agencies to downgrade their ratings of commercial banks.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Lowe’s (LOW) net dropped due to problems in the housing market.

The New York Times writes that it is harder than ever for big oil companies to find drilling prospects.

The New York Times reports that Verizon (VZ) says it FiOS high speed product is more successful than expected.

The New York Times reports that the FDA is working on a stronger label for a widely used diabetes drug, Byetta.

The New York Times writes that Nymex shareholders approved a $8.3 billion takeover of CME.

The New York Times reports that car buyers are becoming less satisfied with the quality of US brands.

The FT reports that SageCrest, the US hedge fund, has filed for Chapter 11.

The FT writes that BP said  it had halted Caspian oil exports across the Caucasus altogether after a railway line in Georgia was damaged.

Bloomberg reports that home-building in the US probably dropped to a 17-year low.

Douglas A. McIntyre