Briefcase

‘Potter’ earns record for midnight shows

LOS ANGELES – Harry Potter still has that magic touch – even before dawn.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2,” the final film in the successful Warner Bros. boy wizard franchise, conjured up $43.5 million from midnight shows Friday, according to studio estimates.

“Part 2” beat the previous midnight record set last summer by “The Twilight Saga: Eclipse,” which earned around $30 million for its midnight screenings. It also smashed the midnight opening record for IMAX theaters, making $2 million at 274 theaters with IMAX screens

With the addition of 3-D, “Part 2” could have a total weekend debut approaching $150 million, according to Hollywood.com analyst Paul Dergarabedian.

The current debut weekend record is $158 million set by “The Dark Knight” in 2008.

Associated Press

U.S. airlines report price increases

DALLAS – Some of the nation’s largest airlines said Friday they raised fares by up to $10 per round trip, the first broad increase in three months.

Sister airlines United and Continental raised prices on many U.S. routes by $4 to $10 per round trip, and Delta matched the increase, spokesmen for the airlines confirmed.

Officials at American Airlines and JetBlue Airways said they had not raised prices. Other airlines did not comment immediately.

U.S. airlines raised domestic prices a half-dozen times in early 2011 to boost revenue and cover rising jet fuel costs, but the last broad increase was in April.

Associated Press

Zillow raises estimate for IPO

NEW YORK – Real estate listing and information service Zillow Inc. said Friday it now hopes to raise up to $71.6 million through an initial public offering, up from its original expectation of as much as $55.7 million.

In a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Seattle company said it expects to offer about 3.5 million shares at between $16 and $18 apiece. Zillow plans to use the funds for general corporate purposes, including a possible acquisition.

No date has been set for the offering.

The company holds data on more than 100 million U.S. homes and provides listings for homes for sale and rent.

Associated Press

GM plant will build trucks in Michigan

DETROIT – General Motors Co. will invest millions in its Flint, Mich., assembly plant so it can make the next generation of pickup trucks there, a person briefed on the matter said Friday.

GM has scheduled a news conference at the factory on Monday morning to make the announcement. The company said Friday that its head of labor relations, union officials and local politicians are scheduled to attend.

The person, who asked not to be identified, did not know exactly how much money would be spent on the plant. The factory will get new equipment to make the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups.

Associated Press