EARNINGS

* Deere & Co. said fiscal fourth-quarter profit climbed almost sevenfold to $71.1 million, or 30 cents a share, from $10.5 million, or 4 cents, a year earlier, as sales rose 21% to $3.38 billion. The results missed analyst forecasts of 39 cents a share, but a bullish forecast from the maker of farming and construction equipment drove its stock up $3.06 to close at $39 on the NYSE. Deere said it expects sales growth of 28% in the first quarter and 11% in fiscal 2001 compared with 2000.