ALSO. . .

Federated Department Stores Inc.’s fiscal first-quarter earnings rose 2% from a year ago, fueled by strong sales at its department stores, which include the Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s chains. The Cincinnati-based chain reported that it earned $89 million, or 41 cents a share, in the quarter ended April 29, compared with $87 million, or 40 cents a share, a year ago. Sales were $4.03 billion, up from $3.6 billion in the first quarter of 1999. Sales at stores open at least a year rose 2.9%. The results topped Wall Street analysts’ estimates of 37 cents a share.

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