Also. . .

* Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. said profit in the fiscal fourth quarter more than tripled to $4.25 million, or 30 cents a share, well above analyst expectations of 25 cents. Sales surged 39% to $81.3 million, and sales from stores open at least a year were up a strong 15%. The 63-year-old company, with 177 stores in 28 states, also benefited from the opening of 11 new stores during the quarter. Shares of the Winston-Salem, N.C.-based company rose $3.44 to close at $77.50 on Nasdaq.

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* Housing affordability remained steady in California in January for the first time in almost two years, according to a report by the California Assn. of Realtors. About 34% of the state’s households could afford to buy a median-priced home in January, which was unchanged from January 2000.

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* Barrett Resources Corp. rejected Royal Dutch/Shell Group’s unsolicited $1.8-billion offer and said it will open its books in a move to win a higher bid. The Denver-based natural gas producer invited Shell to participate in the process and urged the Anglo-Dutch oil giant not to bypass Barrett management with an offer directly to shareholders. Barrett closed up 11 cents at $61.22 on the NYSE, before news of the rejection was announced.

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