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Today’s headlines
Robert Trigaux
Big bounce eludes IPO, now comes test of mettle
In a now legendary scene 35 years ago in The Graduate, a businessman takes aside the naive Dustin Hoffman and says, "I just want to say one word to you -- just one word -- 'plastics.' "

Bank cracks Florida market
BB&T of North Carolina enters the state with its $274.6-million deal to buy First South Bank of Tallahassee.

Tech Data overcomes sales drop
Relying on tight cost controls, the Clearwater company boosts its net income.

Deal ends Andersen in Tampa
Two dozen CPAs will switch to rival Ernst & Young under the agreement, which closes the doors on the local office.

Business today
RUMOR LIFTS STOCKS: Stocks fluctuated throughout an uncertain session, turning mostly higher late in the day on rumors that Osama bin Laden had been captured. The market, worried about the possibility of more terrorism, was on its way to its third straight decline before the unconfirmed rumors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 52.17 at 10,157.88, and the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 9.27 to 1,673.45.