Also. . .

* Shares of Caremark Rx Inc., a pharmacy-benefits manager formerly known as MedPartners Inc., rose 24% as it sought to reassure investors it will settle a dispute over its former California business. Shares rose $1.06 to close at $5.38 on the New York Stock Exchange. Its stock had fallen 17% Tuesday. Last week, The Times reported that a proposed settlement with the state over money the company owes former contract physicians appeared to be in jeopardy.

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* Hundreds of unionized workers at a Ralphs Grocery Co. warehouse in Glendale walked off the job in support of an “informational” protest of Ralphs’ decision to operate a new Stockton distribution center as a nonunion shop. It was not immediately clear if the walkout affected warehouse operations.

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* Davis Industries Inc., a handgun maker that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May, lost the right to halt three pending lawsuits, an attorney said. A federal judge in Riverside on Wednesday refused to stay suits filed by San Francisco, Chicago, and Michigan’s Wayne County that seek to change Davis’ design and distribution of guns.