Also

* Alcoa Inc., the world’s largest aluminum producer, said it will close plants in North Carolina and Oregon and cut production at a facility in Texas because of high energy costs and sagging aluminum prices. The moves will cut 377 jobs.

* Loral Space & Communications Ltd. said its second-quarter loss narrowed to $63.5 million, or 18 cents a share, from $95.4 million, or 29 cents, a year earlier. Sales increased 15% to $316.3 million.

* Jack in the Box Inc.’s third-quarter profit rose 15% to $24.2 million, or 60 cents a share. Revenue rose 6.1% to $461.2 million.