Also. . .

* Fred Meyer Inc.’s fiscal second-quarter profit rose 57% to $46.2 million, or 29 cents a share, matching estimates, as sales more than doubled to $3.5 billion. The Portland, Ore.-based retailer benefited from strong results at recently acquired chains, including Food 4 Less Holdings Inc.

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* Jones Apparel Group Inc. agreed to buy Sun Apparel Inc., which holds the license for Polo Jeans Company clothing, for $444 million. Closely held Sun also makes clothing for such retailers as Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Limited Inc.

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* Nabisco Holdings Corp., maker of cookies and crackers, said it will close a processing plant in Ohio, firing about 140 workers, as it continues to cut costs to pay for more advertising.