by Calculated Risk on 4/24/2009 08:36:00 AM

From CNBC: Ford Loss Narrower than Expected

Ford Motors posted a smaller-than-expected first-quarter loss and said it was on track to at least break even in 2011 and did not expect to seek U.S. government loans ...

"We are really turning the tide in North America," Mulally said, adding that the industry may have hit bottom.

In response to that, Ford will increase production in the U.S. by 25 percent in the second quarter, he added.

Ford is probably being helped by the threat of bankruptcy at GM and Chrysler. At the same time Ford is increasing production, GM is considering shutting down factories for several weeks - so I wouldn't read too much into the Ford increase in production.

Meanwhile, durable goods orders were down in March, the seventh decline in the past eight months.