Also. . .

* Textron Inc. said first-quarter earnings per share would be down about 7% from a year ago, in line with lowered guidance provided in January when the company said it would cut 5% of its work force amid a slowdown in the U.S. auto industry. Providence, R.I.-based Textron, maker of Cessna airplanes, Bell helicopters, golf carts, lawn-care products, automotive components and other products, said first-quarter profit would be about $1 a share, excluding charges associated with cutting more than 3,600 jobs. Analysts originally had expected a first-quarter profit of $1.08 a share.

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