Short Reports

Alcoa reported a 61 percent increase in first-quarter earnings, crediting higher prices and productivity improvements. The results announced Thursday beat Wall Street estimates, and Alcoa shares rose 2.5 percent, or $1.75 a share, to $70.93-3/4 in late trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

The pace of retail sales slowed to a four-year low last month, mostly because Easter falls three weeks later than a year ago, shifting much of the holiday buying from March into April.

Farmland Industries and Cenex Harvest States Cooperatives on Thursday delayed a second vote on their proposed merger, citing a worsening downturn in the agricultural economy.

Ford Motor Co. will sell a version of its Escape small sport utility vehicle powered by gas and electricity in 2003, with fuel economy close to 40 miles per gallon in city driving. The Escape hybrid electric is the first such vehicle for which an American automaker has announced production plans, and the largest hybrid vehicle so far.