Also. . .

* A seventh General Motors Corp. assembly plant was idled and a third parts plant was hit with layoffs as a strike at a key parts plant in Flint, Mich., continued into the sixth day. The No. 1 auto maker said about 18,000 hourly employees were without work because of the walkout. There have been no reports of progress in ongoing talks between GM and the United Auto Workers.

* Health Care & Retirement Corp. and Manor Care Inc. agreed to merge in a stock swap valued at about $2.41 billion, creating one of the largest U.S. operators of nursing homes. Each share of Manor Care, the fifth-biggest company that runs long-term care centers in terms of revenue, would be exchanged for one share of HCR, the eighth-biggest. Manor Care shares rose $4.56 to close at $35.56, and HCR shares fell 63 cents to $37.13, both on the New York Stock Exchange.