Business today

DIGITAL LIGHTWAVE HAS LAYOFFS: Clearwater tech company Digital Lightwave is retrenching further. The maker of devices to test fiber-optic networks confirmed Tuesday that it has laid off part of its sales staff this week, including some overseas employees. Company spokesman Paul Harris would not specify the number of cuts or areas affected, saying details would likely be discussed when the company releases fourth quarter and year-end results this month. "The quarter closes and you make adjustments," Harris said. Last year, Digital Lightwave laid off about 40 employees during an industry slump but its headcount rose for the year to about 200 because of earlier acquisitions and growth overseas.

McDONALD'S TESTS LOCAL ADS: Struggling fast-food giant McDonald's is running a pilot test in the Tampa Bay area of new television and radio commercials featuring local managers and employees vowing to provide a better experience for customers. The new advertising puts a local face on the "We're on it!" campaign being run nationally by the burger chain, which faces slumping sales and earnings. Spokeswoman Alison Baseley said locally based commercials are being tried out only in the bay area so far.

FLA. COMPANIES AMONG BEST TO WORK FOR: JM Family Enterprises Inc., a Deerfield Beach wholesaler for 160 Toyota dealerships in the Southeast, and Publix Super Markets Inc., the Lakeland retail chain, have been named to Fortune magazine's list of the 100 best companies to work for in the United States.

WEAK SALES STILL EXPECTED: Despite a strong finish, retailers are expected to report a weak holiday season and diminished profits, according to estimates of sales through last Saturday, the final day of the two-month season. Although the U.S. Commerce Department has yet to release final figures for general merchandise sales, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi said December sales will show a 2 to 2.5 percent gain in stores open more than a year. That's not enough to significantly raise the firm's estimate of a 1.5 percent gain for the entire season. ShopperTrak RCT, meanwhile said general merchandise for the two months rose a modest 2 percent. Bank of Tokyo estimates are based on reports from more than 70 chains. ShopperTrak is based on sales in 22,000 stores.

CHRYSLER OFFERS 0% FINANCING: Following the lead of General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. in the past few days, Chrysler announced its latest buyer-enticing programs Tuesday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Chrysler is now offering zero percent financing or cash back for five years on some 2003 models, including the Concord, Intrepid, 300M and Durango. It's also offering zero percent financing or cash back for three years on models including the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Liberty and Wrangler. The incentives run through Feb. 28.

MANUFACTURING ORDERS DECLINE: The nation's manufacturers, trying to cope with a spotty recovery, saw demand for their products fall in November, marking the third time in four months that orders to factories declined. The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that factory orders dropped 0.8 percent in November from the previous month, after posting a 1.4 percent increase in October.

MINOLTA, KONICA TO UNITE: The Japanese camera and photocopier makers Minolta Co. and Konica Corp. said Tuesday they have decided to merge. Minolta, the sixth-biggest precision instrument maker in Japan, will join fourth-ranked Konica as equal partners under the holding company Konica Minolta Holdings this summer. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

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