From wire reports

Pearle Vision owner resists takeover bid

Cole National Corp., owner of the Pearle Vision optical stores, is resisting a $320 million unsolicited takeover offer by Luxottica Group SpA, the world's largest eyewear company, people involved in the talks said.

Milan-based Luxottica, which has been in talks with Cole National since October, offered $19.65 a share, less than Cole National's current $20.25. Luxottica may take its bid directly to Cole National shareholders, bypassing management and the board, an anonymous source said.

Luxottica's Lenscrafters unit is based in Deerfield Township.

Discount airlines stocks hit turbulence

NEW YORK - The stocks of discount airlines skidded Friday after Southwest Airlines Co. and JetBlue Airways Corp. issued end-of-year warnings.

The Dow Jones index of airline stocks ended the day down 6.5 percent, compared with a 0.7 percent decline for the Dow Jones industrial average.

Hillenbrand names two women to board

BATESVILLE - Hillenbrand Industries Inc. has named the first two women to its board of directors while announcing the retirement of two long-time board members.

The company said Dr. Anne Griswold Peirce, associate dean and associate professor at the Columbia University School of Nursing, and Dr. Joanne C. Smith, senior vice president at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, will join its board.

Daniel A. Hillenbrand has retired from the board but retains the title of chairman emeritus. John C. Hancock will step down in March, the company said..

Hillenbrand also this week raised the quarterly dividend payable Dec. 31 to 27 cents a share from 25 cents. The payout is for shareholders of record on Dec. 17.