Also

* New models such as the reborn Mini helped luxury German car maker BMW post a slim rise in second-quarter pretax profit. The company said pretax profit for the three months to June 30 rose 2.5% to $991 million.

* Americans may be inclined to stay home on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 hijacking attacks, but apparently not when the travel is free. Spirit Airlines gave away all of its seats for Sept. 11 in just hours after 140,000 calls and more than a million hits on its Web site for a free flight to anywhere the Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based carrier goes. The offer amounted to 13,400 free seats on 90 flights to 14 destinations.