Business memo 04/21/03

St. Francis receives four national awards

St. Francis Medical Center received one national winner and three national finalist awards in the Vision Awards, which recognizes excellence in television, video and Web sites.

The national winner was awarded for two commercials created for the Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. St. Francis won two national finalist awards in the category of broadcast/health care for Women's HeartAdvantage video for the St. Francis Foundation called "Little Reasons."

The hospital's Web site, www.sfmc.net, also received a national finalist award in the nationwide competition.

Delta Air Lines reports first-quarter loss

ATLANTA -- Delta Air Lines reported a wider first-quarter loss Thursday and offered a bleak outlook for the future, warning it will need to further cut costs to survive.

But investors were encouraged the losses weren't deeper, revenue edged higher.

American Airlines got unions to approve sharp cuts to stave off bankruptcy. However, a flight attendants' union said it was rescinding its approval of concessions because of the recent revelation that the airline planned to give bonuses to top executives.

Chief executive Leo Mullin said Delta would use the concessions at American as context for its talks with its pilots.

Sears improves profit margin by 75 percent

CHICAGO -- Sears, Roebuck and Co. improved its first-quarter profit by 75 percent over an off quarter a year ago, but the retailer said weak sales are crimping its near-term outlook despite positive early results from Lands' End.

In a mixed report card for Sears' comeback effort, the department-store chain said Thursday it earned $192 million. But it lost money from its main retail business, which has had lower comparable sales for 19 straight months. It warned that second-quarter results will fall short of Wall Street's expectations.

-- From staff, wire reports