Coldwater Creek earnings improve

Coldwater Creek Inc. reported improved third-quarter earnings, citing strong sales in its retail-stores channel.

The Sandpoint-based company reported net income of $15.9 million, or 17 cents per share, for the three-month period ending Oct. 28. The results, released Tuesday, compare with income of $10.5 million, or 11 cents per share, for the same period last year.

Coldwater Creek sells women’s apparel, gifts and accessories. The firm’s comparable-store sales increased nearly 10 percent during the third quarter compared with the prior-year period. Sales from catalogs and the Internet also increased, which helped Coldwater Creek through a fall retail period marked by heavy promotions, said Dennis Pence, company chairman.

Liberty Lake

Itron completes Flow Metrix buy

Liberty Lake-based Itron Inc. said Tuesday the company has completed its acquisition of a Massachusetts business that designs and sells sensors for detecting underground water-line leaks.

The company, Flow Metrix Inc., is based in Maynard, Mass., and employs 12 people.

Terms of the cash-for-stock merger weren’t disclosed.

Coeur d’Alene

CdA Mines pulls NYSE Arca listing

Coeur d’Alene Mines Corp. will withdraw the listing of its common stock from NYSE Arca Inc., formerly known as the Pacific Exchange. The company’s common stock will continue to trade on the New York Stock Exchange.

The withdrawal will take place within the next month. Officials said the move will eliminate duplicative requirements resulting from the NYSE Group’s recent merger with Archipelago Holdings, the parent company of NYSE Arca.

Houston

Lay ruling won’t be appealed

Federal prosecutors will not challenge a judge’s ruling that vacates the conviction of Enron Corp.’s late founder Kenneth Lay for his role in one of the biggest corporate scandals in U.S. history.

Prosecutors on Monday withdrew their notice of appeal in the ruling last month by U.S. District Judge Sim Lake.