April 26, 2002

Importance of planning for summer vacation discussed; photos (M)

Fujitsu lost 102 billion yen ($787 million) in its fourth quarter ended in March, compared with profit of 60 billion yen year earlier; sales fell 12 percent, to 1.56 trillion yen; company expects to cut 140 billion yen in fixed costs by slashing jobs and closing plants; graph (S)

In ''The Mystery of Charles Dickens,'' Simon Callow enacts both the life and the works of England's most beloved novelist. The play by Peter Ackroyd, adapted from his Dickens biography, opened last night on Broadway. A theater review by Ben Brantley, Page 3.

Article in series Watching Movies With describes director Barry Levinson watching Elia Kazan's 1954 movie On the Waterfront, starring Marlon Brando; Levinson says movie had profound effect on him as boy; maintains that today's movies lack fullness and character development of earlier ones; photos (L)

Fomento Economico Mexicano, Mexico's largest beverage company, says first-quarter profit rose 29 percent; net income grew to 628 million pesos ($68 million), from 488 million pesos year earlier; sales rose 6 percent, to 11.36 billion pesos (S)

Stacy Royster, only girl involved in 2000 murder of Chinese restaurant deliveryman Jin-Sheng Liu, must decide whether to accept 17-year prison sentence in plea deal or go to trial where she could face much longer sentence; case and sentences given to four boys involved in Queens murder reviewed; Royster's role was crucial: ordering food and greeting Liu when he arrived, only to be ambushed by boys hidden in area; her lawyer Robert DiDio ascribes her participation to Royster's history of mental illness; photos (M)

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co says first-quarter net income fell 22 percent, to $189 million, compared with profit of $241 million year earlier; chief financial officer Harvey Chang says profit and orders will increase in second quarter from first quarter; graph (S)

Securities and Exchange Commission begins formal investigation into Wall Street analysts and their potential conflicts of interest; SEC chairman Harvey L Pitt, one day after meeting with New York State Atty Gen Eliot L Spitzer, says commission will join forces with Spitzer and other state and federal regulators in 'formal inquiry'; Spitzer says he welcomes involvement of federal regulators but that he will proceed with his investigation; photo (M)

NHL Southeast Division champions Carolina Hurricanes carve out niche in North Carolina where hockey previously could not capture audience; playoff presence this year leads to increased attendance at games; photo (M)

Sony Corp reports 15.3 billion yen ($118 million) net profit for year ended March 31, 8.6 percent less than last year, on 3.6 percent sales increase, to 7.58 trillion yen ($58.3 billion; attributes gains to strong sales of its PlayStation 2 game console and weakness of Japanese yen; forecasts 5.5 percent growth in sales for new fiscal year, to 8 trillion yen ($61.5 billion) and net profits 10 times most recent level; chief financial officer Teruhisa Tokunaka comments (M)

House votes, 405 to 9, to abolish Immigration and Naturalization Service and divide its functions between two new bureaus, one for immigration services and one for enforcement; lopsided vote reflects lawmakers' frustration over agency' missteps before and after Sept 11; bill's sponsors say this measure is beginning of long process to overhaul way nation protects its borders, enforces its immigration laws and provides services to millions of immigrants; two new bureaus called for in bill would report to new associate attorney general for immigration affairs at Justice Dept; role of new official appears certain to be contentious issue, because official would have broad authority over immigration policy, but no direct budgetary or personnel authority; parallel Senate bill is expected to be introduced next week; White House abandons its official neutrality to House bill, sensing momentum for legislative solution, and endorses it; Atty Gen John Ashcroft says administration still objects to relative lack of authority vested in new associate attorney general; photo (M)

Few top female executives seem to share their male colleagues' view of high-ticket sports cars as reward for reaching career goal; luxury car makers are seeking to convince women, who now buy 44 percent of all new cars, up from about 30 percent ten years ago, that their cars are high-class fashion accessories; drawing (M)