Pressing the right button – for now

Dieter Zetsche was not pressing the wrong button when DaimlerChrysler published third quarter financial results one day ahead of schedule on Tuesday evening. The results were so far ahead of expectations that German law required the carmaker to spill the beans. Operating profit at the group rose 38% on the year to E1.838bn, as troubled Mercedes hit the road to recovery. Across the Atlantic, things were also surprisingly upbeat – for now. Chrysler’s operating profit increased 43% year-on-year to...