General Host Corp.: The Stamford, Conn., operator...

General Host Corp.: The Stamford, Conn., operator of specialty retail stores posted a second-quarter net loss of $2.9 million, compared to a net loss of $2.7 million a year ago. Sales rose 13% to $109 million, same-store sales were up 2.5% and gross profit margins improved by more than two percentage points. The firm blamed the latest loss on a previously announced charge to discontinued operations stemming from an agreement in principle to settle a lawsuit. The latest quarter’s income benefited from elimination of $2.5 million of income tax reserves that are no longer required.