From wire reports

Wild Oats shares rise on Kroger speculation

Shares of Wild Oats Markets Inc., a natural-foods grocer, rose 8.2 percent on speculation that the Kroger Co. may acquire the company, analysts said.

Wild Oats, based in Boulder, Colo., increased 96 cents to $12.70 at 4:30 p.m. New York time in Nasdaq Stock Market composite trading.

Last month, the company's shares rose on speculation Cincinnati's Kroger Co. may purchase Wild Oats for about $17 a share. The speculation resurfaced today.

Sonja Tuitele, a spokeswoman for Wild Oats, said the company's policy is to not comment on rumors. Kroger spokesman Gary Rhodes also declined to comment.

JetBlue Corp. sued by travelers in disclosure

JetBlue Airways Corp., a low-fare carrier whose sales almost doubled last year, was sued by customers for disclosing passenger information to a U.S. Defense Department contractor.

Two suits, filed in Utah court in Salt Lake City and federal court in Los Angeles, seek class-action status to represent passengers whose names, addresses, phone numbers and flight itineraries were disclosed to Torch Concepts of Huntsville, Alabama. The Utah complaint alleges JetBlue violated a privacy policy on its Web site.