Also. . .

* A.G. Edwards Inc. said its fiscal first-quarter profit rose 39%, driven by increased commission revenue and continued strong growth in investment banking. The St. Louis-based brokerage earned $76 million, or 78 cents a diluted share, beating estimates of 72 cents. It had net income of $54.5 million, or 56 cents, a year ago. Revenue jumped 30% to $570.2 million, with investment banking revenue up 54% and commissions up 31%. Trading revenue rose 0.7%.

* Best Buy Co., the nation’s largest consumer electronics retailer, reported better-than-expected fiscal first-quarter earnings as its efforts to better manage its inventory offset higher labor costs. Best Buy’s profit was $15.7 million, or 16 cents a diluted share, contrasted with a loss of $2.64 million, or 3 cents, in the year-ago quarter. Analysts had forecast earnings of 14 cents a share. Revenue rose 21% to $1.94 billion. Sales at stores open at least a year were up 15.3%.

* Mack Trucks Inc. was accused by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency of deliberately selling diesel engines that pollute the air with dangerous levels of nitrogen oxides in order to increase fuel economy. A lawsuit charging the company with violating the Clean Air Act was filed by the Justice Department on behalf of the EPA after Mack Trucks broke off negotiations to reach an out-of-court settlement, the government said.