BUSINESS BRIEFS

Downshift

Ford Motor Co., low ered its forecast for 2009 US car and truck sales to as low as 10.5 million this year, a re duction of 1 million vehi cles from an earlier fore cast. Ford also repeated that it does not expect to need to take government funds.

Limited off

Limited Brands Inc., the owner of the Victo ria’s Secret chain, said it will cut its workforce by 400 workers and re ported fourth-quarter net income fell to $16.1 million, or 5 cents a share, from $388.6 mil lion, or $1.10 a year ago.

Soft spot

Spot gold fell to $930.80 an ounce, the weakest price since Feb. 11. That was its fourth declining session in a row, after rising to an 11-month high above $1,000 last Friday.

In store

US lawmakers will hold a hearing next week on whether to consider changes to the bankruptcy code that would give retailers more time to find a buyer, or restructure and avoid liquidation, according to a person familiar with the pro posed legislation.

M’soft curb

Microsoft Corp. is slashing overtime, hours and pay for US temporary workers as part of an overall push to curb expenses dur ing the recession. Tem porary workers will be paid at a rate that is 10 percent less for current projects. Microsoft em ploys between 40,000 and 60,000 temporary workers worldwide.