Troubles at Ford? No.

UPDATE Ford Motor Co. reported a net profit of 31 cents per share, or $750 million, for the April-June period — a big improvement from the net loss of 17 cents per share or $317 million during the same second-quarter period a year ago. Ford’s total results for the first half of the year now stand in the black, at $458 million, suggesting Ford could be much further along in its Way Forward turnaround plan than many believed.

That plan is slated to close 16 plants, eliminate 44,000 jobs and revamp the company’s lineup in the crucial North American unit, with a goal of profitability in 2009.Ford’s performance is likely to surprise analysts who had been forecasting a loss before special items of 37 cents per share, or nearly $700 million. On an operating basis, before special items, Ford posted a profit of $258 million, or 13 cents a share, compared to a loss of $118 million, or 6 cents per share, a year ago. Ford’s improved performance is the result of both cost-cutting and revenue improvements. Detroit Free Press

07/25/07 Ford Motor Co. shares are among the most actively traded stocks on the New York Stock Exchange early Wednesday afternoon. At a volume of more than 71 million shares being traded, the Dearborn automaker’s fell 2.4% to $8.06 a share as of 1:38 p.m. Ford’s trading volume is nearly double the next closest stock – Corning Inc. – with a volume of 36.5 million shares on the NYSE. The nation’s second-largest car and truck maker will report its second-quarter earnings Thursday.