PRESS DIGEST - New York Times business news - July 11

July 11 (Reuters) - The following were the top stories in the New York Times business pages on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

* Alarmed by the growing financial stress at the nation's two largest mortgage finance companies - Fannie Mae (FNM.N) and Freddie Mac (FRE.N), senior Bush administration officials are considering a plan to have the government take over one or both of the companies and place them in a conservatorship if their problems worsen, people briefed about the plan said on Thursday.

* In a reversal of its previous hostility to the idea, Anheuser-Busch Cos Inc BUD.N is in active talks to sell itself to the Belgian brewer InBev INTB.BR in a friendly deal, people briefed on the matter said Thursday night.

* With sales of pickups and big SUV's tumbling, Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T) said it would shut down truck production at two United States plants for three months and consolidate its pickups into one factory next year.

* As cities and states struggle with ballooning retirement costs, accounting rule makers started an ambitious project Thursday to force state and local governments to issue better numbers and reveal the true cost of their pension promises.

* As it seeks to cut costs and bolster its flagging share price, General Electric Co (GE.N) may be willing to dispense with the business from which it sprang: the light bulb.

* Retailers said that sales at stores open at least a year rose higher than expected in June thanks to aggressive summer promotions, government stimulus checks and warm weather.

* Beginning on Friday, the Chinese government will begin restricting advertising space in Beijing, giving preference to the official sponsors of the Olympic Games.

* Dow Chemical Co (DOW.N) said Thursday that it had agreed to buy Rohm & Haas Co ROH.N, a specialty chemical maker, for about $15.3 billion in cash.