THE CUTTING EDGE/TECHNOLOGY NEWS : Priceline Forms Mortgage Venture

Priceline.com Inc., which lets consumers bid online for plane tickets and hotel rooms, said it formed a joint venture that lets customers name their terms for a mortgage and learn within minutes whether the bid was approved. The Stamford, Conn.-based company formed the venture, called Priceline mortgage, with Alliance Mortgage, a unit of closely held Alliance Capital Partners, based in Jacksonville, Fla. Priceline.com’s shares fell $2.53 to close at 65.59 on Nasdaq.