Also. . .

* Pier 1 Imports Inc. said fiscal third-quarter profit jumped 46% to $23.6 million, or 24 cents a share, beating analysts’ estimates by 2 cents. The retailer’s sales rose 15% to $343.5 million, while sales at stores open at least a year grew 10.6%.

* Ohio Art Co. said it may move production of its popular Etch A Sketch toy to China because of increasing production and labor costs. A decision is expected in January. Nearly all the company’s other toys, including smaller versions of Etch A Sketch and its Betty Spaghetty doll, already are made in China. Ohio Art has been struggling financially during the last two years, posting losses in the first two quarters of 2000.

* Boeing Co. said it will cut as many as 400 of 900 jobs at its plant in Palmdale near the end of January as it completes maintenance work on the space shuttle Columbia. The company said some of the laid-off workers will be rehired when Discovery is delivered for maintenance.

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