The U.S. thrift industry earned $1.69 billion...

The U.S. thrift industry earned $1.69 billion in the second quarter of 1997, the Office of Thrift Supervision said, down from $1.73 billion in the previous quarter and down from $1.9 billion in the second quarter of 1996. Although there was a slight dip in earnings in the recent quarter, the industry is “fundamentally sound,” said Nicholas Retsinas, director of the office. . . . The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Deloitte & Touche, alleging that the New York-based accounting firm violated the Americans With Disabilities Act by wrongfully refusing to pay a death benefit to the estate of a former Deloitte & Touche director because he had died of cancer. It seeks unspecified damages. Lawyers at Deloitte & Touche could not be reached for comment. . . . The Federal Communications Commission granted a Hawaiian broadcaster the first permit to build a commercial digital TV station promising viewers crystal-clear pictures and sound. The construction permit was issued to KHVO in Hilo, owned by KITV Argyle Television Inc. . . . Dallas-based Trammell Crow Co., one of the largest commercial real estate services companies in the U.S., plans to raise as much as $67.8 million after expenses in an initial public offering, it said.