Herald staff
SEATTLE — Amazon.com is opening an online outlet store, available at www.amazon.com/outlet.
The Seattle-based Internet retailer sent customers an e-mail Wednesday inviting them to try the site, which features $5 books and $7 CDs, among other things.
Curt Anderson, the store’s senior manager, said the idea is to assemble in one place the best deals Amazon offers. The outlet also will offer discontinued and overstocked goods, but so far there are no plans to offer wireless technology through it.
Bothell biotech tests new drug: ICOS Corp. and partner Texas Biotechnology LP have begun tests in healthy volunteers of TBC3711, an oral medication aimed at hypertension or congestive heart failure. If all goes well, it will initiate phase II tests in mid-2001.
More 737 orders: German airline Hapag-Lloyd Flug has exercised options to buy three more Boeing 737-800 jetliners, the Boeing Co. confirmed Wednesday. Boeing is to deliver the three planes in 2002. No price was given for the aircraft. The carrier will use the new 737s on routes throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.
Thursday prices: Gold sold for $272.45 a troy ounce, silver sold for $4.63 and platinum sold for $608.20.
Dell slashes prices: Dell Computer Corp. said Wednesday it has cut U.S. prices on most of its corporate notebook computers by up to 20 percent. Dell and other computer makers have been hurt by steadily eroding prices and sluggish holiday sales. Dell’s stock price has plunged more than 70 percent from its 52-week high of $59.69 in March.
