Earnings for Bothell-based SonoSite, which specializes in portable ultrasound equipment, dropped nearly 70 percent during the last three months, the company reported Monday. SonoSite reported second quarter earnings of $425,000, compared to $1.4 million a year ago. That amounts to 2 cents a share, compared to 8 cents during the second quarter of 2008. Officials said the worldwide recession has dramatically reduced sales of medical equipment. “We did see some improvement in buying trends toward the end of the quarter, yet our forward planning is focused on earnings and cash flow growth through 2010 as we await a recovery in hospital-based capital spending,” said SonoSite Chief Executive Kevin Goodwin. On Monday, SonoSite closed up 32 cents a share at $21.28.
EBay to reward site’s trustworthy sellers
EBay Inc. wants to attract more buyers to its online marketplace. So it’s trying a new way of rewarding good sellers. Traditionally eBay has offered discounts and other perks to “PowerSellers” — the merchants who sold the most stuff on the site. Under a new program it was unveiling Monday, eBay is giving top-tier status to sellers who have very little negative feedback from buyers — even if these vendors aren’t among those who make the most sales on its online marketplace. Now top-rated vendors will get a 20 percent discount on the fees they must pay eBay after selling an item, along with a virtual badge they can display on their pages to indicate their status.
Delta frequent fliers will get to roll over miles
Delta Air Lines Inc. is taking a page from the cell phone industry and will be allowing elite frequent fliers to roll over miles earned above their qualification status in a given year so they have an easier time maintaining that status or improving to a higher one the next year. The world’s biggest airline operator planned to announce Tuesday enhancements to its SkyMiles Medallion program that will go into effect over the next nine months. Atlanta-based Delta has three elite frequent flier statuses — silver, gold and platinum — and will be adding a fourth, diamond.
T-bill rates mixed in Monday auction
The Treasury Department sold three-month bills at a discount rate of 0.19 percent Monday, unchanged from last week. It auctioned six-month bills at a rate of 0.275 percent, down from 0.285 percent last week. For a $10,000 bill, the three-month price was $9,995.20 while a six-month bill sold for $9,986.10. That would equal an annualized rate of 0.193 percent for the three-month bills and 0.279 percent for the six-month bills. Separately, the Federal Reserve said that the average yield for one-year Treasury bills, a popular index for changing adjustable-rate mortgages, fell to 0.47 percent last week from 0.48 percent the previous week.
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