Microsoft earnings flat

        Microsoft Corp., the world's largest software maker, reported fiscal second-quarter earnings that were in line with reduced expectations as sales rose on increased demand for Windows 2000 software for businesses.

        Net income was $2.62 billion, or 47 cents a share, compared with profit before a charge of 47 cents a year earlier. Revenue climbed 7.7 percent to $6.59 billion from $6.11 billion, the company said in a statement.

        The company, which gets about two-thirds of its sales from PC software, last month cut its forecast for the quarter after consumers and businesses curbed spending because of a slowdown in economic growth.

AltaVista cuts 200 jobs

        AltaVista Co., a unit of CMGI Inc., said it cut 200 jobs, or about a quarter of its work force, to reduce expenses at the Internet search service after advertising revenue growth slowed.

        It's the second time since September that AltaVista has announced job cuts. On Sept. 15, AltaVista said it would cut 225 employees, or about a quarter of its 900 employees then.

Ford 4Q earnings dive

        Ford Motor Co.'s fourth-quarter earnings fell sharply due to weaker U.S. auto sales, but the results matched Wall Street's lowered expectations and left the company upbeat about its advances overseas.

        The world's second-largest automaker joined its competitors and many analysts in predicting that the malaise in domestic showrooms is unlikely to lift for months.

        “We will face softening U.S. market conditions in 2001,” Jacques Nasser, Ford's president and chief executive, said Thursday after the company's earnings were released.
       

Rayovac cuts back

        Rayovac Corp. will close its lantern battery and flashlight assembly plant in Wonewoc, Wis., eliminating about 240 jobs, and will lay off another 40 workers at its Fennimore, Wis., plant as part of previously announced plans to restructure.

        The combined cuts announced Thursday represent about 8 percent of the company's worldwide work force.
       

Joblessness claims down

        The number of U.S. workers filing new claims for state unemployment benefits unexpectedly fell last week to the lowest level since the end of September, government figures showed today.

        Initial jobless claims fell by 37,000 to a level of 306,000 for the week ended Jan. 13 from a revised 343,000 the prior week, the Labor Department said.

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