Business and Finance
CHRYSLER AND DAIMLER-BENZ are in talks about a merger, or even an acquisition of Chrysler by Germany-based Daimler, say people familiar with the talks. A combination, which could value the U.S. auto maker at more than $35 billion, would reshape the world-wide auto industry, creating a company with an estimated $130 billion in annual revenue.</br></br>---</br></br>Robert Rubin urged investors to use more `rigor' in evaluating the stock market's level, though the Treasury secretary didn't comment on whether the market is overvalued.</br></br>Stocks, bonds and the dollar fell amid interest-rate worries. The Dow Jones industrials dropped 45.09 points to 9147.57. Rubin's comments that Japan shouldn't rely on a weakening yen for growth pressured the dollar.</br></br>---