Also:

Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the company controlled by billionaire investor Warren Buffett, said operating earnings in its fiscal first quarter rose 31% to $462 million, or $303 a share. The results beat the $250-a-share estimate, according to First Call/Thomson Financial. Berkshire said the underwriting results of Geico Corp. and GeneralCologne Re improved as both units continued to raise prices. Net income fell 25% to $606 million, or $397 a share, as investment gains dropped 68%. . . .

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ARV Assisted Living Inc., a Costa Mesa operator of assisted-living facilities, said its first-quarter net income fell 29% to $1.7 million, or 10 cents a share. Revenue rose 1% to $35.4 million. . . .

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Day Runner Inc., a Fullerton marketer of loose-leaf paper organizers, narrowed its net loss in the fiscal third quarter to $8.3 million, or $3.43 a share, from $12.4 million, or $5.20, a year ago. Sales fell 32% to $20.4 million.

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