Also . . .

* General Mills Inc., the No. 1 U.S. cereal maker in terms of revenue, raised its cereal prices by an average of 2.1% to help combat higher costs. The price hike took effect May 31 and applies to most of the company’s brands, which include Cheerios, Wheaties and Trix.

* FleetBoston Financial Corp. agreed o acquire the asset management businesses of Liberty Financial Cos. for $900 million in cash. FleetBoston also will assume $110 million in revolving debt. The transaction, subject to regulatory approval, will make FleetBoston the worlds’ 29th-largest investment manager.