Also . . .

* Walgreen Co. said earnings rose 10% in its fiscal third-quarter earnings to $213 million, or 21 cents a share, missing analyst estimates by a penny because of softer sales at its general merchandise section and spending for aggressive store expansion. The nation’s largest drugstore chain said that revenue rose 16.7% to $6.3 billion, and that sales at stores open at least a year jumped 11.3%. Pharmacy sales, which accounted for 59% of total sales, grew 21.4%. Walgreen shares fell $3.76 to $37.25 on the NYSE.

* Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corp. said it has bought 10 stores formerly operated by the now-defunct Montgomery Ward & Co. as well as one former Bradlees Inc. store. Two of the acquired Wards stores are in Northern California, and the others are in Florida, Texas, Washington and Illinois. The retailer, which now operates 295 stores in 42 states, said it expects to open more than 20 new stores and relocate 10 to 12 others this fiscal year.

* Cheap Tickets Inc., a seller of discount airline tickets and hotel rooms, said second-quarter profit will be far lower than forecast because of glitches on its Web site and price competition from airlines. The Honolulu company expects profit of 4 to 5 cents a share, rather than the 22 cents analysts forecast. Cheap Tickets shares fell to as low as $9.35 on the news in after-hours trading. The shares had closed off 3 cents at $16.19 on Nasdaq.