FUGITIVE FINANCIER CAPTURED: Shalom Weiss, a financier who has been on the run since his conviction last year for racketeering and fraud linked to the collapse of the National Heritage Life Insurance Co., was caught in Vienna. Weiss disappeared in October 1999, shortly before the end of his nine-month trial in federal court in Orlando. National Heritage collapsed in 1994 with losses of more than $400-million, authorities said. Weiss faces an 845-year prison term.

FLORIDA EXISTING HOME SALES RISE: Sales of existing single-family homes remained flat last month nationwide, but rose nearly 8 percent in Florida and 4 percent in the Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater area, compared with September 1999, the National Association of Realtors and the Florida Association of Realtors reported. Meanwhile, median home prices continued to climb, rising 5.5 percent nationally, 7 percent statewide and nearly 11 percent in the Tampa Bay area. The median sale price last month for an existing single-family home was $141,800 nationally, $124,700 in Florida and $122,100 in the bay area. The median is the midpoint: Half the homes sell for less, while half sell for more.

NEW LOW FOR EURO: The euro fell to a new low, dropping to 82.62 cents against the dollar. Since its introduction at the beginning of 1999, the euro has fallen nearly 30 percent. Jane Foley, a currency analyst with Barclays Capital in London, said some traders are predicting the euro will bottom out at 75 cents. The euro went into a freefall after finance ministers and central bankers of the Group of 20 gave no clear intervention warning at their summit in Montreal.

FLORIDA OKAYS KIDNAP INSURANCE: Kidnap insurance isn't just for corporate executives anymore. The Chubb Group of Insurance Cos. said it has received approval from Florida regulators to include kidnap insurance coverage automatically in all its homeowners policies in the state. The coverage includes up to $100,000 for kidnap-related expenses such as legal fees and security guards (but not ransom money) and $25,000 toward posting a reward. Chubb, a small player in Florida with just 17,000 homeowners policies, said there is no extra cost for the coverage. Kidnap insurance has been widely available in commercial policies sold to businesses, but Chubb began rolling it out in personal lines in other states this year.

BANK OF AMERICA RAISES DIVIDEND: Bank of America Corp. will boost its quarterly dividend by 12 percent from 50 cents a share to 56 cents a share. The next dividend will be distributed Dec. 20 to shareholders of record Dec. 1. Bank of America shares closed at $44.06, down 44 cents.

UNITEDHEALTH PLANS SPLIT, BUYBACK: UnitedHealth Group Inc. said it will split its shares 2-for-1 and will buy back up to 16-million shares. UnitedHealth's share price has more than doubled this year. United said shareholders as of Dec. 1 will receive one extra share for every share they own, payable Dec. 22. United shares fell $2.13 to $104.50.

GRAPEFRUIT GROVES' VALUE RISES: Florida's farmland values continue to increase, with grapefruit land posting big gains for the second consecutive year, a University of Florida survey shows. John Reynolds, professor of agricultural economics with UF's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, said the value of grapefruit groves increased 25 percent or more in the past year. The increases follow declines from 1990 to 1998. Reynolds attributed the increases in grapefruit land values to improved prices for the fruit.

INTERNET BATTLE: Microsoft Corp. said it will spend $1-billion to promote its MSN network of Web sites, the most it has spent on a consumer-marketing campaign. Microsoft will spend $150-million on TV and Internet advertising and the rest on promotions, rebates and programs with marketing partners. The company also released the final version of its MSN Explorer software, an Internet-browsing program that highlights the MSN sites. Separately, America Online Inc. introduced the newest version of its AOL software, which includes a feature that allows users to have online information read to them by telephone. The feature on AOL 6.0 will be free for about six months; after that, AOL will charge $4.95 in addition to its $21.95 monthly subscription charge.

TREASURY BUYBACK: The Treasury's buyback plan continues today. The Treasury plans to buy back as much as $1.5-billion in 30-year bonds. The government has repurchased $23.75-billion in securities since the buybacks began in March. It plans to repurchase $30-billion in securities this year.

TREASURY AUCTION: Yields on two-year Treasury notes fell in Wednesday's auction. The yield was 5.845 percent, down from 6.002 percent at the last auction on Sept. 27. The notes will carry a coupon interest rate of 53/4 percent. A total of $10-billion in notes were sold out of bids totaling $26.8-billion.

Earnings

Franklin Resources Inc.

The parent of Franklin Templeton Investments said it has agreed to acquire Fiduciary Trust Co. International of New York for $825-million in stock. The acquisition will add $50-billion in assets under management to the $230-billion Franklin Templeton had at the end of the quarter.

Franklin also reported a 3 percent gain in revenues and a 6 percent gain in net income for its fiscal fourth quarter ended Sept. 30. Results included a pretax gain of $8.2-million related to the sale of the company's San Mateo, Calif., headquarters.

For the fiscal year, revenues were up 3 percent and net income 32 percent. The year-ago numbers included a $58-million restructuring charge.

Raymond James Financial Inc.

The St. Petersburg-based financial services company reported record results for its fiscal fourth quarter and year ended Sept. 29, but chairman Thomas A. James warned the stellar results aren't likely to be repeated. Net income was up 66 percent for the quarter and 47 percent for the year. Brokerage commissions, investment advisory fees and trading profits all increased dramatically. James said the results were part "serendipity" and benefited by comparison with lackluster numbers in the fourth quarter of 1999.

Kforce.com Inc.

The Tampa staffing company continues to struggle as it takes its business online. In announcing its earnings for the quarter ended Sept. 30, Kforce.com officials said they are working on increasing the company's credit line from $35-million to $90-million, want to buy back more of the company's stock, and have formed an alliance with Brunel, a Dutch consulting company.

PowerCerv Corp.

Revenues for the Tampa software manufacturer fell 37 percent during the quarter ended Sept. 30, compared with the same period a year ago, and its net loss swelled to $752,000. PowerCerv also said former SBT Accounting Systems chief executive Robert H. Davies has joined its board of directors. Davies takes the place vacated by former PowerCerv chief executive Michael Simmons.

Global Imaging Systems Inc.

The Tampa office-equipment distributor reported a 13 percent decline in net income for the fiscal quarter ended June 30. Global Imaging blamed the reduction on higher interest rates and increased borrowing.

Outback Steakhouse Inc.

The Tampa restaurant chain said same-store sales for its Outback Steakhouse and Carrabba's Italian Grill chains grew 7 percent and 10.5 percent, respectively, in the quarter ended Sept. 30. Results for the year-ago quarter were reported on a pro-forma basis.

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