Business briefs 2/5/04

IBM to take over some Sprint call centers

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- IBM Business Consulting Services will take over management of some of Sprint Corp.'s call centers across the country, Sprint announced Wednesday. The five-year customer-service agreement calls for IBM to take over management of Sprint's 21 vendor-operated call centers across the country and of the Sprint-owned call center in Nashville, Tenn. Angie Makkyla, a spokeswoman for Sprint, said the thousands of workers at the 21 centers that already were run by outside companies won't be changing employers, but will be under new management. Some Kansas City em-ployees who support customer service will become IBM.

Treasury to auction notes to combat debt

WASHINGTON -- The Treasury Department said Wednesday that it will auction $56 billion in notes next week and will make a decision in May on whether the government should add one or more new securities to help finance the national debt. The department's consideration of selling new securities comes as the government's finances worsen. This year's budget deficit is expected to total a record $521 billion, even as the economic recovery is in full stride. Treasury has ramped up borrowing to finance the daily operations of the government, including meeting interest payments on the national debt, which is closing in on $7 trillion.

Anheuser-Busch reports higher sales, earnings

ST. LOUIS -- Strong growth in Anheuser-Busch Cos.' domestic and international beer operations led to higher sales and earnings for the fourth quarter and full year in 2003, the world's largest brewer said Wednesday. Anheuser-Busch, the maker of Budweiser, Michelob, Bud Light and other beers, said it earned $294 million, or 36 cents per share, in the quarter ending Dec. 31, up 9 percent from $269 million, or 32 cents per share, a year earlier.

-- From wire reports