Honolulu Star-Bulletin Local News
Business Briefs

Reported by Star-Bulletin staff & wire

Wednesday, November 20, 1996

Longs earnings rise;
stock split approved

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - Longs Drug Stores Corp. today reported net income of $9.4 million, or $0.48 per share, for the third quarter ended Oct. 24, a 6.3 percent increase from a year earlier.

Sales totaled $666.9 million, up 6 percent from last year.

The company also announced a 2-for-1 stock split.


American to buy
more than 100 Boeing jets

NEW YORK - American Airlines plans to buy more than 100 jets from Boeing Co. - worth as much as $6 billion - if its pilots ratify a new six-year contract that the union board approved today, sources said.

The order represents more bad news for McDonnell Douglas Corp., whose planes currently make up nearly half of American's fleet. Many of the new Boeing jets would replace older McDonnell Douglas planes.

The deal includes firm orders for 12 Boeing 777 widebody jets, about 75 Boeing 737s and smaller numbers of the company's 767 and 757 jets, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity. American is to announce the deal tomorrow.


Ford Windstar rates best
in crash tests

WASHINGTON - The Ford Windstar fared best in insurance industry crash tests of 1997 passenger minivans, while the Pontiac Trans Sport was rated the poorest of models tested.

The institute tested a series of minivans by crashing them, offset to one side, into a barrier at 40 mph and observing the resulting damage. The poor performance of the Pontiac was attributed to an underbody beam supporting the engine.

"The GM minivans are safe vehicles," responded Pontiac spokesman Kyle Johnson.

In general minivans have good on-the-road crash experience, the institute said.

Other test findings:

Mazda MPV, rated marginal because of damage to occupant compartment.

Dodge Grand Caravan-Chrysler Town & Country-Plymouth Grand Voyager, marginal because of footwell damage.

Honda Odyssey-Isuzu Oasis, marginal because of footwell damage.

Nissan Quest-Mercury Villager, marginal because of potential leg injury.

Chevrolet Astro-GMC Safari, rated poor because of occupant compartment damage and potential lower leg injury.

Ford Aerostar, poor for occupant compartment damage and steering-wheel movement.

Toyota Previa, poor because of "marginal structural performance," excessive belt slack and potential leg injuries.




For more local, national and international business news,
see the Hawaii Inc. section in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.



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