IN BRIEF

Conservator seeks deadline extension

The state conservator who took over the Atlantic City casino owned by Tropicana Entertainment LLC is asking state gaming regulators to give him an extension of the June 9 deadline for selling the facility.

The conservator was installed and assumed control of the Atlantic City property when the state casino commission refused to grant the owners a gaming license.

The loss of the license ultimately resulted in Tropicana's Chapter 11 filing on May 5. The Atlantic City casino itself is not in bankruptcy. The creditors support an extension of the sale deadline.

Tropicana was a $2.1 billion cash acquisition of five casinos two years ago. Debt includes $960 million in subordinated notes, $1.3 billion secured by a first lien on most of the assets except the Las Vegas casino, where there's effectively a second lien, and a $440 million secured loan with a first lien on the Las Vegas property.

Fund manager Soros to testify in energy case

Hedge fund manager George Soros, Chicago Mercantile Exchange executive chairman Terrence Duffy and a senior official at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission are slated to testify Tuesday on "energy market manipulation and federal enforcement regimes," a Senate panel said Friday.

The Tuesday hearing aims to hash out the role financial speculators have played in driving up the price of crude oil and other commodities.

DETROIT

Officials say bankruptcy won't affect Greektown

Greektown Casino said Friday that gamblers won't notice any changes and its in progress $500 million expansion, which includes a permanent hotel, will continue despite its filing for bankruptcy protection.

Casino officials also have told employees that they don't expect job cuts as part of a reorganization.

Greektown Holdings LLC, Greektown Casino LLC and their affiliates filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Detroit after failing to comply with terms of a credit line.

Kerkorian will keep plan to buy Ford shares

Billionaire Kirk Kerkorian will stick with plans to buy more Ford Motor Co. stock after the shares fell 21 percent below his offer, showing support for Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally's turnaround strategy.

Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. is waiving a provision in his May 9 tender offer that allowed him to withdraw the plan if the shares fell more than 10 percent from the day before the filing, Tracinda said in a statement. The $8.50-a-share proposal is to expire June 9.

Kerkorian is majority stakeholder in casino company MGM Mirage.

DETROIT

Ford Motor will build Fiesta near Mexico City

Ford Motor Co. plans to build its new Fiesta subcompact at a factory near Mexico City for sale in the U.S., the company said Friday.

Ford plans to retool its Cuautitlan Assembly Plant from large-truck to small-car production as it moves to shift its factories from trucks toward more fuel-efficient vehicles, the company said.

The move is a blow to the United Auto Workers union, which last year approved a contract that granted concessions to the automaker. The union doesn't represent workers in Mexico.

MELVILLE, N.Y.

Hey, you in the cubicle, feeling bitter today?

Are you bitter? A lot of American workers are, according to a new national survey.

In the Marlin Co.'s 14th annual "Attitudes in the American Workplace" poll, nearly 75 percent of workers said the American dream was less attainable today than eight years ago. And 52 percent said it was unreachable for the average American.

The survey defines the American dream as the opportunity to have a nice home, financial security and hope for the future.

NEW YORK

Treasury prices higher on government news

Treasury prices rose Friday after a government report indicated spending and inflation remained in check.

The benchmark 10-year Treasury note rose 0.25 points to 98.59 and yielded 4.05 percent, down from 4.08 percent late Thursday.

The 30-year long bond rose 0.59 points to 94.5 and yielded 4.72 percent, down from 4.74 percent late Thursday.