The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 27

1 r'1 The Palm Beach Post Market updates Instant stock quotes Breaking news Online at PalmBeachPostcom 6B TUESDAY. JULY 22. 2003 RUSSELL 2000: 457.17 hFcst.com DOW: 9,096.69 NASDAQ: 1,681.41 Economic indicators continue rise nnsnmer expectations and mar consumer expectations and June were manu- 1 1 tnr nnsumer eooos sts said it SBC, Qwest team up with satellite TV firms DAIIAS In hopes of staving off competition from cable companies two of the i ur.a iriante Mnnnav an- Analysts still say it is too soon to know whether the United States is the manuiaciunng TIitH is too soon to know whether the United States is about to enjoy a period of steady economic growth. 'The rebound in the economy is still more of a forecast than a fact," said Porter, senior economist at Nesbitt Burns Securities of Chicago. 'There's no question that there are stul clouds over the economy and the darkest cloud is the employment picture, Porter said.

"Still, the underlying sense is that things are improving." Four of the 10 components of the leading indicators index rose in June, eluding the real money supply, stock paces and buildmg permits, the New York-based Conference Board said. in tarhirers new oiucis wi Saterik Manufacturing hours and new orders for non-defense capital goods were UnCThegledading index, which rose 1.1 percent in May and 0.1 percent in April, is supposed to measure where the veraU economy is headed over the next three to sue months It stood at 100 in 1996, its base year The board's coincident index, which measures current economic conditions m-creased 0.1 percent in June, while the lagging index dropped 0.5 percent "I still think we need to be a little cautious," said Ken Goldstein, a Conference Board economist On Wall Street stocks traded lower Mon-See ECONOMY, 8B about to enjoy steady growm. By BRAD F0SS The Associated Press A cauge of economic activity improved slightly in June for the third consecutive mX buttressing the view that the nation on the cusp of a financial recovery even if signs of weakness persist. The Conference Board reported Monday its Index of Leading Economic Indicators increased by 0.1 percent in June to 111.8, in re 'oWb- evneetations. However, Among the components mai uamitu u.

line wiui uiaij- with high unemployment and weakness in Gasoline prices up just a bit fife yV7 fX r-l since June Causes include vacation driving and nation regional pi uu. nounced partnerships with satellite TV providers that will widen the package of services that can be offered on a single bill. SBC Communications the main local phone company in much of the Midwest, Southwest and California, announced a nartnership with EchoStar provider of the Dish Network, to offer a co-branded service to homes in SBC's 13-state service area. Separately, Denver-based Qwest Communications International the main local phone provider in 14 Western and Plains states, announced its own partnerships Monday with EchoStar and nval DirecTV Inc. Stewart's lawyers want answers NEW YORK Martha Stewart's lawyers asked a federal judge to order an investigation into who leaked details of her indictment to the news media before the grand jury returned the formal charges.

The leaks violated federal rules that make grand jury proceedings confidential, Sid mSht have influenced grand jurors before they handed up the mdictment against Stewart and her ex-stockbroker, the lawyers said. News reports before the June 4 indictment accurately predicted the home-decorating maven would be charged with obstruction of justice and conspiracy but not the tougher charge of insider trading. Kodak buys PractlceWorks Inc. ROCHESTER, N.Y. Eastman Kodak already a leading producer -of dcntrt X-ray film, said it is paying around $500 million to acquire Practice-Works an Atlanta-based maker of information technology systems for dental offices The buyout will turn Kodak into the worldwide market leader in dental digital radiography and the biggest provider of management software and services for dental practices in the United States Europe arid Japan.

Under the deal, Kodak will pay $21.50 for each share of PractlceWorks common stock. 10-year note yield soars WASHINGTON U.S. Treasuries plunged, sending the yield on the 10-year note to its highest since December, as 1 speculation that the Treasury will sell more debt to finance the budget deficitdamped demand for government bonds The losses extended a tumble that has pushed the note's yield to 4.2 percent from 3.07 percent on June 16, the biggest gain over a 26-day trading period since 1987. The selloff is Hurricane Qaudette. nu CTPPHFNI HFYMAN Palm Beach Post Staff Writer urccr PAIM REACH LJ A 1 Around lunchtime on week days, the Hess gas siauon on RfinH is bustling with motorists refueling, many of whom are quic tell you gas isauu ui i3oi riniftrv a student at i am mv.

nearby Palm Beach Atlantic University, was putting $5 worth of regular unleaded what he calls the "cheapy gas in nis compact Monday; when he began to i i -v i drive tour years ago, gas tui A r- 11 only a gaiion. Guidry passed more expensive stations and stopped at riess to save muucj "I go here as a general rule; this is the cheapest place mr ffi nThe Associated Press around, ne saiu. The AAA reported that the average price for a gallon February American rei nuuuw being exaceroaieu uy i irA hencnne' of cheapy gas na ucu i cents statewide since June; in Palm Beach County the July against an anticipated drop in home-loan PAMPERING TREND GOES TO THE DOGS AND CATS average is i.oo. wiosi mu-torists seem not to have noticed this little jump in prices. refinancing.

steelmakers Dost slight profit lwnoctir steel ine average tuusuiuci fthe increase) producers collectively posted a slight profit tic fnmffo luoro imnnnpn that much," said Yoli Buss, the director of traffic safety at i HT Well-known human in the year auer u.o. uuuw v. on imported steel, industry attorneys said. no mmfit cnmp nftpr three AUtO UUD SOUin. uyuuimvc a 20-gallon tank, it's only 80 cents more every time you fill companies launch product lines for pets.

years of "major" losses, according to the at- tomeys, wno nope iu l.uiivu i fiffc- Viqwp hpmin tn stabi- UP- noorl tn etav in nlace Still, tne increase trends that might have until March 2005. The four domestic com By LOUISE CHU The Associated Press at! amta When Tohn panies are: U.S. iteei, iNucor oicci, niuinif Paul DeJoria, the co-founder of affected pump prices. First, there's Hurricane Claudette, which Buss said temporarily closed some oil refineries in Texas. Now that the refineries are open again, i i i Dynamics inc.

anu ixuiunm FTC settles with underage thief ThpITS Federal Paul Mitchell salon proaucis, decided to launch another hair-care line, he made sure it ad Wrtoninn iun i prices couia iaK.e a uip. 1 'uamaummmmmammaMamtamimmtimam against an underage identity thief who the See GAS, 8B dressed a common consumer problem: getting rid of fleas and ticks. agency saia sioie euu v-i P. t- At mo Warnpr aiming to represent riv iuuv a lntemot unit he Pump prices Average prices at gas rWnria'c new line. John pir ffi nThe Associated Press Inc.

vnenca umurc miuuv. n-roprl tn surrender Pni Pet nffers designer for UniUeilLUlCU 1UI11U1 p-rvrt mi onH was harren Lex Gable sits with pet couches and loveseats at her Dogmopolitan booth. le r' --1 ho nmrinrts that look like thev are for humans. stations in rionaa meira mulas for pet-care needs, in "cram e-mails. me laiesi uenu a(j(Jcaio iu uv- areas: cluding sucn unusuai cumula irOm SeilUHIK unauutiiu the FTC said.

The defendant sent e-mails Haimincr Regular Premium a ytior rnmna. Area tions as a tea-tree treatment and oatmeal conditioning rinse. Ft. Lauderdale $1.54 $1.70 to America uhuik -u'' there was a problem with their account and i i il, Kiltinrr infnr. Miami tliat they snouia upuaic men flednegat0Unced to all of our nies that primarily cater to hu- rustomers that John Paul Pet man needs are capitalizing on Sd STllSeil are two total- their brand-name recognition fyndduen1a DeJo- to market ffVF Creating a separate line tor his canine clientele seemed a natural move for the animal lover, who wanted to apply his re- Orlando $1.48 mation, tnenv.

sdiu. ii s. Tobacco touts new product Tallahassee $1.55 $1.71 West Palm Beach ria said. "But in all tne proa- nownea nair-care exyeiuac TTio nation's leadinff Boca Katon i.oo nets it does sav that ra co- casiiuig ui i umuou, founder of Paul MiShell the expected to total $31 b.l ion r. roro bee Ptlb, OD tnzzea-oui mr.

jejuna some "cross-advertising snuff maker has asked the federal ad regu- State average $1.52 $1.67 111 JV. vTl 111 lator to neip uetiuc mwuiu h. helped lend credibility to his Source: AAA July figures STAFF GRAPHIC to sell snun as iousclu i. tic CmrvtolessTnhacco Co. nana siuurvc.

u.j. wants to tell cigarette smokers to switch to Kevel, one 01 us uewra tect other people from secondhand smoke. ImClone co-founder quits, it In shake-up, WPBF-TV drops sports segments The proauci, wmui i fV.ot (nnciimpre SllfK tODaCCO-Illieu pdi.is.c i. uiai fueling talk ot takeover on. iV'tX." hps settles deaf workers' lawsuit ident.

He also resigned from the comoanv's board, SAN I RAN CISCO United Parcel Ser- 1. 1'irrmet narUnire- Harlan Waksal had been vice uic wui iu iujv tn rav a mnst demoted. His brother Sam delivery sei vice, a' million to settle a lawsuit alleging it denied has pleaded guilty to fraud. deal worKers proiuouuua vide them with interpreters. United Parcel tr tn 1 nflO deaf and win pay pj.o vr, -ir hearing-unpaired workers plus $4.1 million The Associated Press ni; viwu Unrliin Waksal re in attorneys ices.

said. "Sports will become less of a fixture of the newscast element and a more as-needed basis," Coscia said. "We are not phasing out sports. We are reconfiguring our sports department." That means some familiar faces will be departing. Sports anchor Jim Abath, who joined the station in September 1999, will not have his contract renewed.

Sports anchor Vince Kelly will work as a weekend news anchor. The station also has cut By SUSAN T. PORT Palm Beach Post Staff Writer The local ABC television affiliate is taking some dramatic steps to get out of its third-place rut. And the first thing WPBF-Channel 25 is doing is getting rid of sports as a separate segment. "We are looking at operational efficiencies and viewer appetites, and sports got the short end of the stick," News Director Joe Coscia said.

Over the next six months, sports news will be covered on a breaking basis with other news stories, he signed from ImClone Systems the troubled biotech company at the company said Waksal in a statement. Shares of ImClone fell 63 cents, or nearly 2 percent, to $33.60 in morning trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market on the news. Sam Waksal, the longtime friend of Stewart, was sentenced last month to more than seven years in prison and ordered to pay more than $4 million after pleading guilty last year to securities fraud, perjury and other charges related to the sale of ImClone shares ahead of news that caused the shares to fall sharply. See IMCLONE, 8B mit any wronguomg. Rerman labor leader to quit the center of an insider trading Tlio hattle tn scandal that ensnared nis orouier and co-founder and threatens Mar control Germany's most powerful union, Id tn nn ahnint end jvleiau, appfttn tha Stewart.

Harlan Waksal, who co-founded the company with his brother Sam, was chief scientific officer of Im on Monday as me uuiu in onnnnnren that ne man, ruaus wi'i would step down early rather than accept hie Hpmitv. luercen Peters, as successor. Clone, after he was demoted in April ch'ci executive anu pres- Compiled from Palm Bead) virr tfnirn.