Short Reports

Ameritech Corp., the Midwest phone company trying to go global by merging with SBC Communications, will buy 20 percent of Bell Canada for $3.4 billion.

February orders to factories for big-ticket durable goods such as aircraft and washing machines recorded the sharpest decline in more than seven years, reflecting weakness across many industries.

Internet bookseller Amazon.com signed a deal with Samsung Corp. Wednesday to sell books in South Korea without charging high shipping costs, Samsung officials said.

The Federal Aviation Administration grounded Kiwi International Air Lines Wednesday, saying the tiny discount carrier was no longer able to fly safely.