Tandy stock rose on Wall Street in advance of Microsoft's announcement that it will set up "store within a store'' retail areas in Radio Shack stores, which Tandy owns. Meanwhile, rival Circuit City stock rose after Merrill Lynch said it expects the company to form a partership of its own, perhaps with America Online.

Wednesday afternoon, the bank slashed its 1999 Wall Street earnings forecast and canceled a conference scheduled for Monday with analysts and investors. Bank One cited softness in earnings at its First USA credit card unit.

The company said it expects a slowdown in fourth-quarter sales as it cuts back on catalog page circulation. Lands' End is cutting back on circulation to eliminate unprofitable mailings as its switches its focus from print to electronic commerce.

The company said higher-than-expected costs in its food-service-distribution business would hurt earnings in its fiscal third quarter. The company said it expects Wall Street stocks to earn 42 cents to 45 cents a share, below analysts' estimates of 58 cents per share.

The online travel services company spun off by Microsoft Corp. stock rose in its second day of public trading. Expedia allows travelers to make airline, hotel or car rental reservations over the Internet.

Stock shares rose for a second straight session on anticipation that Sun Microsystems, a key customer for its fiber channel switches, will soon release a new product incorporating the switches. Ancor makes network equipment.

Chemdex formed a partnership with IBM to provide Internet-based software and services to suppliers and buyers in the pharmaceutical and health care industries. Chemdex runs a medical-supplies database that matches suppliers and buyers.

The radio broadcasting company lost 16 cents per share in its recently ended third quarter, including a one-time charge for the early extinguishment of debt. Salem said third-quarter broadcast stock cash flow rose 14.3 percent.

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