The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc. (GAP) posted before market open Friday a smaller quarterly loss, citing a gain from the sale of its Eight O' Clock coffee division and strong performance at its Canadian stores. The retailer reported a net loss of $25.1 million, or 65 cents a share, for its fiscal 2004 third quarter, compared with a loss of $30 million, or 77 cents a share, in the year-earlier period. Excluding items, A&P said it had a pretax loss from continuing operations of $41 million, or 32 cents a share, in contrast to a loss of $41 million, or $1.12 a share, a year ago. Analysts had forecast a third-quarter loss of $1.21 a share, on average. The Montvale, New Jersey-based company said sales rose 6.7%, in the quarter ended November 29, to $2.47 billion from $2.31 billion, last year. Same-store sales were up 1.2% in the quarter. A&P also said it recorded a gain from discontinued operations of $75 million before taxes primarily from the sale of the Eight O'Clock coffee business.

A&P shares rocketed up 23.08% to close Friday at $9.28. The stock inched up 3 cents to $9.31 in after-market trade.

International Electronics, Inc. (IEIB) of Canton, Massachusetts, reported after market close Friday that it swung to a first-quarter net loss of $53,630, or 3 cents per diluted share, from a year-ago net profit of $12,961, or a penny per share, on weaker sales. The maker of electronic security products said sales eased 2% to $2.6 million, from $2.7 million in the 2003 comparable quarter.

The stock slipped 4.39% to $3.70 at market close Friday.

Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (BSET) said Friday its quarterly net income almost doubled, boosted by sales increase. The Bassett, Virginia-based furniture maker posted fourth-quarter net earnings of $3.2 million, or 28 cents a share, compared with $1.7 million, or 14 cents a share, in the corresponding period last year. For the quarter ended November 29, sales climbed 4% to $82.9 million from $79.4 million, a year earlier. The company said it also benefited from improved productivity and inventory-reduction efforts.

Company shares closed Friday unchanged at $18.00.

Boosted by strong outsourcing business, Infosys Technologies Limited (INFY) announced Friday that its third-quarter profit rose 28% to 3.28 billion rupees ($72.1 million), or 48.5 rupees per diluted share, from 2.56 billion rupees, or 38.22 rupees per diluted share, in the same period a year ago. The Bangalore-based, India’s second largest software exporter said quarterly sales jumped 29% to 12.35 billion rupees.

The stock shed 44 cents on Friday to $98.14. Company shares rose 1.39% to $99.50 in after-hours trading.

Ford Motor Company (F) forecast Friday earnings before items of $3.5 billion to $3.8 billion, or $1.20 to $1.30 per share, for the full-year 2004. Analysts currently expect the Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker to post earnings of $1.27 per share in 2004, with a range of 90 cents to $1.50 per share. Boosted by improvements from its luxury brands and European segment, Ford expects its automotive business to ring up a profit excluding items of $900 million to $1.1 billion, compared with its forecast for breakeven results in 2003.

Ford shares slid 3.16% to close Friday at $16.56. The stock gained 10 cents to $16.66 in after-market trade.

Kulicke and Soffa Industries, Inc. (KLIC) of Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, said Friday it expects its first-quarter revenue to be around the high end of its previous guidance of $150 million, plus or minus 5%. Analysts view the revenue of the world’s No.1 supplier of assembly equipment for the semiconductor industry of around $151.8 million.

The stock closed Friday up 15 cents, or 1.00%, at $15.10.

RedEnvelope, Inc. (REDE) cut its quarterly earnings outlook, on order cancellations and weak shipping revenue. The San Francisco, California-based online retailer said it now sees a third-quarter net profit of $900,000 to $1.2 million, on revenue of $35 million to $35.7 million. The company had previously projected third-quarter earnings of $4.3 million to $4.7 million, on revenue of $39.5 million to $42.5 million.

Company shares plummeted 28.45% on Friday to $11.09. The stock inched down 9 cents to $11.00 in after-market trade.

Parker Drilling Company (PKD) of Houston, Texas, said Friday it expects to report a fiscal 2003 fourth-quarter loss from continuing operations of 9 cents to 11 cents a share. Including refinancing costs and an impairment charge, the provider of offshore drilling sees a loss of 12 cents to 15 cents per share in the fourth quarter. The company also said it expects to return to profit in the third quarter of 2004.

The stock surged 12.37% to $3.27 at market close Friday.

Forest Laboratories, Inc. (FRX) said Friday its third-quarter earnings will top Wall Street’s expectations by at least 15%, citing strong sales of its antidepressants before the holiday season. On average, analysts expect the New York-based drug maker to earn 51 cents per share, in its third quarter.

Company shares rose 3.83% to close Friday at $71.64.

Landry's Restaurants, Inc. (LNY) of Houston, Texas, said Friday its fourth-quarter operating earnings will meet or beat the average analysts’ estimate for profit of 17 cents a share. The second largest casual-dining operator specializing in seafood also said it expects to report 2003 revenue of about $1.1 billion.

The stock soared 5.48% on Friday to $26.97.