AIRLINES

Northwest Airlines to Offer Stock to Public: The carrier, which was taken private in a 1989 leveraged buyout, is expected to make an offering that, combined with new debt securities, could raise up to $1 billion. Northwest plans to file an initial public offering in December and hopes to raise $300 million to $500 million of equity, along with a similar amount through a debt offering--both to refinance and pay off bank loans, a banker familiar with the Minneapolis carrier said.