News-Press from Fort Myers, Florida • Page 33

AUTO SALES: Ford, General Motors report gains for November while Chrysler slips 2D GI33U1.DED: Frequent-flier members are cashing in miles for items that do not involve travel 3D The News-Press STEVE McQLTLKIN Business Editor 335-0393 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday SECTION For more business news, go to: 3 SDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2001 MARKET WATCH: DOW 87.60 at 9,763.86 NASDAQ 9 25.68 at 1,804.90 500 CI 9.55 at 1,129.90 Listings pages 3D, 6-8D CUTLXKS: Enron lays off 4,000 worken, faces countersuit from one-time suitor Dynegy 2D FLORIDA ATI on WORLD E3LMQD1S 8 Personal spending Here is a look at the nation's personal spending. Seasonally adjusted Car sales, manufacturing, construction up other durable goods, which reflected the huge success of zero-interest financing packages offered to lure shoppers back to showrooms after the Sept 11 terror attacks. Both General Motors Corp. and Ford reported that continuation of the incentive programs had helped boost sales in November as well, compared to the same period a year ago.

Strong auto sales are expected to spur increased production in the new year and help to halt a yearlong slide in manufacturing. In an encouraging sign, the $7,20 trHfai lifillllff Curat $7.19 trillion I Onemonttiago $6.98 trillion Oneyago $6.85 trillion i 6.20 6.00 NO FMAM A SO 2000 2001 SOURCE: Department of Commerce AP I 6 I jljlllll I some hope that the groundwork is being laid for a rebound early in the new year. "The new figures support the idea that this will be a mild recession and that we will recover from it fairly quickly," said David Wyss, chief economist at Standard Poor's in New York. The Commerce Department reported that personal spending rose by a record 2.9 percent in October. The jump was led by the biggest increase in spending ever on autos and The Associated Press WASHINGTON Lured by no-interest auto deals, Americans pushed up consumer spending by the largest amount ever in October.

A closely watched manufacturing gauge rebounded a bit, too, and construction spending halted a five-month slide in encouraging economic news. While insisting it was too early to declare that the recession was ending, economists said the figures provided National Association of Purchasing Managers said Monday that its closely watched manufacturing index posted a rebound in November to 445, up from an 11-year low of 39.8 in October. While the index remained at a level indicating a manufacturing recession, analysts saw the November increase as a strong gain that was led by the biggest jump in new orders on record. In another report, construction spending halted five consecutive declines to post a L9 percent advance in October, the best showing since last January. Waterman to take full control of ABC 7 i in i I.

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ji i ,7 A i 1 I i. I I 1 Photos by STEPHEN HAYFORDThe News-Press BETTER SERVICE ON DRAWING BOARD: Manfred Heberle of Germany is greeted by his wife, Christa Heberle, of Bonita Springs after arriving on an LTU flight from Dusseldorf on Thursday at Southwest Florida International Airport. Plans are in the works to offer airlines incentives to bring new and additional international air service to Fort Myers. New data puzzles investors; Dow down 0.9 percent NEW YORK A mix of economic data Monday left stock investors puzzling over how long the economy will take to recover and prompted many to cash in recent profits. "Investors are certainly going to be looking at every economic number, because the big question is: When will the economy and earnings recover? That is the whole issue," said Hugh Johnson, chief investment officer at First Albany Corp.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed down 87.60, or 0.9 percent, at 9,763.96. The broader market also fell The Nasdaq composite index slipped 25.68, or L3 percent, to 1,904.90 and the Standard Poor's 500 index declined 955, or 0.8 percent, to U29.90. Medlmmune buying maker of flu vaccine SAN FRANCISCO -Medlmmune Inc. is paying about $L3 billion in stock to acquire Aviron, the maker of a promising nasal-spray flu vaccine. Aviron has developed FluMist a vaccine that is sprayed into the nose instead of injected by needle, the current vaccination method.

Aviron hopes the Food and Drug Administration will approve FluMist next year in time for flu seasoa Many doctors say the pain-free method would encourage more people to get vaccinated for the flu, a virus that still kills 20,000 Americans each year and hospitalizes 100,000. Olympics, elections may help ad industry NEW YORK Two leading forecasters on Monday predicted a mild rebound in advertising spending for 2002, saying the Winter Olympics and congressional elections should help pull the industry out of a slump. The growth would not be enough to bring spending back to the boom levels of 2000, it will start the gradual crawl back," said one of the forecasters, Robert Coen of Universal McCana Coen expects a 2.4 percent increase in all US. advertising spending next year. London-based Zenith Optimedia expects global advertising to edge up 0.8 percent in 2002.

Interest rates down on short-term T-bills WASHINGTON Interest rates on short-term Treasury bills fell in Monday's auction with the rate on three-month bills falling to the lowest level in 43 years. The Treasury Department auctioned $16 billion in three-month bills at a discount rate of 1.735 percent Another $16 billion in six-month bills was auctioned at 1.765 percent The new discount rates understate the actual return to investors L769 percent for three-month bills with a $10,000 bill selling for $9,956.10 and L805 percent for a six-month bill selling for $9,910.80. In a separate report, the Federal Reserve said Monday that the average yield for one-year constant maturity Treasury bills fell to 223 percent last week from 235 percent the previous week. The Associated Press Airport director studies incentives Beasley Broadcast appears at Wa9 Street conferences Beasley Broadcast Group Inc. (BBGI) will make presentations about the company at UBS Warburg today and at Credit Suisse First Boston on Wednesday.

George Beasley, the radio broadcast corporation's chairman and chief executive officer, and Allen Shaw and Bruce Beasley, co-chief operating officers, and Caroline Beasley, chief financial officers will answer questions for analysts. A live audio Web cast of Beasles presentation at UBS Warburg will begin at 430 p.m. at Credit Suisse First Boston's conference at 10 am Wednesday may be viewed from the Beasley Web site at httpywww.bbgLcom by selecting the "Investors" link. Allow 15 minutes to register, download and install software. Audio replays will be available on the company's web site the day following each presentation for 24 hours.

FindWhat.com lifts 4th quarter guidance FindWhat.com, a Fort Myers corporation that develops and markets performance-based advertising services for the Internet, updated its financial guidance for the remainder of 2001 on Monday. The company, whose products include the FindWhat.pom pay-for-performance search engine, raised its revenue estimate for the fourth quarter to $7 million, about 30 percent more than its third-quarter revenue Earnings per share, the company estimated will be 6 cents in the fourth quarter, up 50 percent from its third-quarter EPS of 4 cents. The company expects revenue for all of 2001 to reach $195 millioa "We have seen more than a penny increase in our revenue per click-through, but what has been most encouraging is the rise in the number of click-throughs on our advertisers' listings, said Craig Pisaris-Henderson, president and chief executive officer. The company's current estimates for 2002 are $30 million in revenue and 23 cents in EPS. The company will update its 2002 guidance when it announces its Q4 2001 results.

FindWhat.com stock closed at $5.05 on Monday, up 63 cents. Spanish Clementines pulled from stores GAINESVILLE Fearing a Medfly outbreak, state agriculture officials have ordered that all Spanish Clementines be pulled from grocery stores across the state The decision came last week after dead Medfly Lirvae were found in the tangerinelike fruit in a Gainesville grocery store The Clementines, which are shipped from Spain, will be destroyed "We don't have anything against Spanish Clementines, but we do have something against Medflies," said Richard Gaskalla, director of the plant industry division of the Florida Department of Agriculture T7ie News-Press staff and wire PREMIUM ZINC-AIR BATTERIES fvPCIQ LIMIT 2 PACK PER FAMILY I 6 V. 1 1." li; I a Ma Ball is desperately trying to get his airport back on track in the midst of a recession and worldwide decline in air travel following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. He's also faced with keeping the airport in the black while plan By JOAN D.

LAGUARDIA Montclair Communications, which owns the local ABC television affiliate, plans to merge with Waterman Broadcasting, the NBC affiliate that has managed the ABC station since 1994. Lara Kunkler, sole owner of Montclair and ABC 7, WZVN-TV, petitioned the Federal Communications Commission to approve the merger. Montclair will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Waterman. 'To the viewers, to our employees and to absolutely everybody except some accountants, it will be absolutely transparent," said Steve Pontius, Waterman general manager and executive vice president Kunkler said the merger will help the stations complete a $9 million conversion to digital equipment It also will continue stability in local television broadcasting, she said. "Before Waterman Broadcasting did the local management agreement and Montclair purchased the station, it was turned over many times," Kunkler said of the ABC affiliate.

"Waterman Broadcasting has proven itself as an established broadcaster not a company looking for cash flow or returns on Wall Street" The merger will be accomplished through a stock swap, the value of which is unspecified. That will be determined at the time of closing," Kunkler said. The public will be given 30 days to comment to the Federal Communications Commission on the proposed transaction. To do so, go to the Web site www.fcc.gov or call (888) 225-5322 (888-CALL FCC). As news organizations multiply, the FCC is more willing to approve joint See MERGER 20 "Since Sept 11, people are a little more cautious, a little more conservative as to square footage and price.

People who may have been liKikingforL200toL400 square feet are trying to find a smaller space and people considering moving up from C-plus to a space, for example, may be taking a little longer; there's a little conservatism." This week's Mainstrcct was written by Joan D. lAGuardia and Dick Ihigan, ning to open a new $386 million terminal within four years. Ball said he is frustrated by his inability to clinch a deal for direct service to the UK and thinks incentives might make the difference. "My gut tells me a 7 By ANNE MITCHELL Hungry for more air service especially direct European flights Southwest Florida International Airport's executive director is looking to sweeten the deal for the airlines by offering incentives. Bob Ball said he hasn't decided yet what those incentives will be, but he's studying what other Florida airports have done, such as giving credits on landing fees, gate use charges and parking fees.

He wants to encourage more German flights, and at least one direct link with the UK. When he comes up with an incentive plan early next year, he'll need the go-ahead from the Lee County Port Authority Board the county's five commissioners. There would be no favoritism for any particular airline "We have to treat everybody the same," Ball said. "It's not a subsidy but an incentive to get (airlines) to test a new market or add more frequency," he said. BALL CAREFUL HANDLING: A baggage handler rides a conveyor belt Thursday with an animal carrier from the belly of a Luft Transports Unternehmung.

European market from Fort Myers if they wished. But offering incentives is no guarantee. Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport waived landing fees in January to attract new or increased See AIR TRAVEL 2D UK flight will work, but it's sure hard to convince (the airlines)," he said "I met with Virgin Airlines and they said they know they can support one flight a week here, but why should they do it when they can fly into Orlando and people will jump in cars and drive down here," he said. However, a VS. airline, such as Delta or American, could opt to seize the incentives and get into the Local tourism leaders using president's sound bites i fl if.1i.-..r-,in I Bruce Grady is back in his old profession of commercial real estate working for Mark Alexander Co.

in Fort Myers, which specializes in leasing office space It's familiar ground for Grady, who before serving as mayor was a broker and mobile home subdivision developer and also worked as leasing director for the Barnett Center, now known as the 1 Iuntington Bank Building. The market's a little different these days, he said attacks and the economic recessioa "It's pretty tough, but season will be better," she said, hoping that the Midwest's unusual spate of 60-dcgree temperatures hi December will soon end The TLA already has raised more than $10 million to pay for the ads running on the major networks and popular cable new channels. The ads focus on clips from Bush's speeches. Former Fort Myers Mayor President George W. Bush is appearing in his first nonpolitical advertisement to encourage Americans to start traveling again.

Local resort and hotel operators say the $20 million campaign by the Travel Industry Association can't hurt, even if it doesn't help. "It's a positive role for a leader to take," said Jay Halcrow, marketing director for West Wind Inn on Sanibel Lsland. "At least it's not a negative. It's a positive MAIXSTREET 1 i thing in a negative world, and we'll take anything that's a positive." Sales are down at Southwest Florida's tourist-sensitive businesses as Americans stay home and worry about terrorist I'Mi lnj si in isiiifi.