Also. . .

* Sunbeam Corp. warned that its first-quarter sales may not meet expectations of $285 million to $295 million. It did not discuss what effect the lower sales would have on earnings.

* Shell Oil Co. said it will spend nearly $1 billion to develop three Gulf of Mexico oil and natural gas discoveries that would add the equivalent of 300 million barrels of oil to its reserve base.

* General Motors Corp. lowered the interest rate it offers on car and truck loans to 1.9% from 4.9% on many models, the second time this month it sweetened incentives to help reverse its sinking market share.

* Conagra Inc.’s earnings fell 4.5% to $138.6 million, or 30 cents a diluted share, before a charge, from $145.1 million, or 32 cents, a year ago. The maker of Armour lunch meat, Healthy Choice foods and Butterball turkeys cited lower demand from Asia for fresh meat products, though U.S. demand also declined. Operating profit and sales for its processed and prepared foods rose.

* New Jersey’s Commerce Bancorp Inc. said it will hire nearly 3,000 employees over the next five years, doubling its work force, and add branches in a drive to double its assets to $8 billion.