FCA Ponders Strategy as U.S. Stock Listing Lags

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV launched its primary stock listing on the New York Stock Exchange at the beginning of last week, but the response of U.S. investors has been tepid.

Bloomberg News notes that FCA's carryover listing in Milan has averaged more than seven times the volume as the New York exchange. One analysts describes the stock's performance in New York City as "irrelevant."

To bolster interest, CEO Sergio Marchionne and Chief Financial Officer Richard Palmer plan next month to begin touting the newly merged company to Wall Street's financial community.

FCA carries about €10 billion in debt. Marchionne insists the company's doesn't need new capital to fund its ambitious €48 billion product and capacity investment program through 2018. But he says the company may issue new shares to provide a cushion in case global auto industry slows.

FCA's board will meet next week to discuss financing, including a possible stock issue. The company's shares, which debuted at $9 on Oct. 13, closed on Wednesday at $9.41, down 4 cents.