Also. . .

* Kaiser Aluminum Corp. said it will raise aluminum sheet and parts prices by about 1% because of higher energy costs.

* MBNA Corp. said profit in the fourth quarter rose 33% to $423.8 million, or 48 cents a share, a penny better than estimates, as the world’s largest independent credit-card company lent more money to consumers. MBNA boosted loans 23% to $88.8 billion, in part by buying other companies’ credit-card portfolios.

* Merrill Lynch & Co. said it will cut 60 jobs in its stock and bond research department, or about 4% of the unit’s work force. The cuts are the latest cost-cutting move among securities firms as they brace for a slowdown in business.

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