BRIEFCASE PALM INC. PROFITS REMAINING ELUSIVE.

Byline: - Staff and wire services

SAN JOSE - Palm Inc. said Thursday that revenues for the current quarter will be lower than expected and the company won't yet achieve profitability as a result.

The Santa Clara-based handheld computer maker said sales for its fourth quarter ending today will be approximately $230 million, compared with the previously expected $290 million to $300 million.

Analysts were expecting revenues of $296 million and a loss of a penny per share, according to a survey by Thomson Financial/First Call.

Executive named at Pay-TV's Starz

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - William D. Myers was named senior vice president of finance and chief financial officer for pay-TV movie provider Starz Encore Group on Thursday.

Myers replaces Glenn Curtis, who resigned in April.

Myers previously was executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer of On Command Corp., a subsidiary of Liberty Satellite and Technology Inc.

Denver-based Starz is a subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp. The company posted $863 million in revenue last year.

Missing sealant sparks Ford recall

DETROIT - Ford Motor Co. has recalled thousands of minivans to check for a missing sealant that could cause a short circuit and lead to fire.

The recall affects 413,042 Windstars from the 2000 and 2001 model years in the United States, Ford spokesman Todd Nissen said Thursday. The missing body sealer could allow water, dirt or salt to get into the right rear passenger compartment.

Ford began notifying owners of affected vehicles about the recall on April 5. The recall was included in a monthly list of recalls released Thursday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration:

--1999 Ford F-Series trucks, including the F250, F350, F450 and F550, with manual transmissions. The front parking brake cable can fail and cause the front parking brake system to not hold the vehicle in place. The recall involves 46,144 trucks in the United States. Nissen said there have been 40 reports of ``roll-aways,'' three of which resulted in minor injuries.

--95,000 Jeep Wranglers from the 2001 and 2002 model years. Water or other impurities can get into the ignition switch and cause a short circuit, possibly leading to fire.

In all cases, the manufacturer will provide free repairs of defective parts at its dealerships.

Microsoft faces accounting suit

SEATTLE - Microsoft Corp. reportedly is negotiating with the Securities and Exchange Commission to settle allegations the software giant misrepresented its financial performance.

Rather than imposing fines, the SEC is likely to bring civil charges that Microsoft, based in suburban Redmond, failed to keep accurate books and records, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing unidentified sources close to the talks.

Adelphia stock being delisted

PHILADELPHIA - The Nasdaq Stock Market said Thursday it will delist Adelphia Communications' stock on Monday for failure to file financial reports, the latest in a series of blows that have toppled the family of founder John J. Rigas from control of the sixth-largest cable television company.

Adelphia spokesman Gary Holmes said company officials wouldn't immediately comment. Adelphia isn't able to appeal the delisting, which Nasdaq announced in a news release after the close of trading.

``This decision is final,'' Nasdaq spokesman Scott Peterson said.

The announcement tightened the financial bind for the nation's sixth- largest cable television company, already scrambling for cash to shore up its finances and avoid bankruptcy after its balance sheet and stock price were sent reeling by rampant self-dealing by the founding family. Adelphia also is under pressure from lenders to file overdue financial statements.