Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA agree to extend contract covering commercials

Hollywood's actors unions have agreed with advertisers to extend again their contract covering appearances and voice-overs in commercials.

The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists will continue to work through March 31 under a contract that expires Oct. 29. The contract already had been extended two years.

The decision was expected because SAG has yet to conclude negotiations with the studios on a new film and TV contract to replace the one that expired June 30.

Additionally, SAG and AFTRA may not be ready to set aside their differences and negotiate jointly, given the history of sparring between the unions.

MORTGAGES

Fannie Mae to lose 3 executives

Fannie Mae says three top executives are leaving as the mortgage finance company aims to cope with mounting losses from the housing bust.

Chief Financial Officer Stephen Swad is leaving to "pursue other opportunities" in the private equity business. He is being replaced by David C. Hisey, formerly the company's controller.

Fannie named Peter Niculescu as chief business officer, replacing the retiring Robert J. Levin. Michael Shaw is taking over as chief risk officer for Enrico Dallavecchia.

COURTS

Exxon must face Indonesian suit

Exxon Mobil Corp. must face a lawsuit by villagers in Indonesia who say the company contributed to human rights abuses by government security forces.

U.S. Judge Louis Oberdorfer in Washington denied a motion by Exxon and ExxonMobil Oil Indonesia to dismiss the suit, saying there was evidence Indonesian security forces under contract with the companies committed atrocities.

The villagers sued in 2001, claiming that Indonesian soldiers working for the Irving, Texas, company committed murder, torture and rape in Aceh province, where the company operates a government-owned oil and natural gas field and a pipeline.

AIRLINES

United to cut 10% of attendant jobs

UAL Corp.'s United Airlines will eliminate 1,550 flight attendant jobs as it shrinks operations amid record fuel bills.

The cuts cover about 10% of United's attendants and will take effect Oct. 31, the Assn. of Flight Attendants-CWA said.

MEDIA

Vivendi ponders its stake in NBC

Vivendi, France's biggest media company, may sell its 20% stake in NBC Universal, though there is "no urgency" to do so now, Chief Executive Jean-Bernard Levy said.

"One day we think this shareholding will be sold," Levy said in a Bloomberg Television interview in Palaiseau, France. "There is no urgency. Every year we consider it a little bit, whether it makes sense."

COMPUTERS

Dell to sell PCs in emerging markets

Dell Inc. plans to sell four new personal computers in China and 20 other emerging markets, its biggest push so far to tap growth that's four times faster than in the U.S.

The two laptops and two desktops, called Vostro and priced between $400 and $500 in China, will begin shipping in August and will be available in Europe, Asia, South America and the Middle East by November, the Round Rock, Texas, company said.

From Times Staff and Wire Reports