BRIEFCASE.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

Bombings, storm to hit gas prices

Terrorist bombings in London and the movement of Hurricane Dennis through the Caribbean will add pressure on oil and gasoline prices, which may be reflected at local pumps as early as next week, the Auto Club of Southern California reported Friday.

The average price of self-serve regular gasoline in the Los Angeles area Friday was $2.491, 2.6 cents higher than last week, 11 cents higher than last month and 25 cents higher than last year.

``Our local conditions point to higher gas prices, but beyond next week, it's impossible to say what will happen,'' said Auto Club spokeswoman Carol Thorp.

Privacy complaint targets probe firm

A privacy rights advocacy group has asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether Web sites advertising investigative services capable of digging up personal information such as phone call records are violating federal laws.

Washington D.C.-based Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a complaint with the federal agency on Thursday, singling out Encinitas-based Intelligent e-Commerce Inc., which runs bestpeoplesearch.com.

H&R Block to miss report deadline

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - H&R Block Inc. said Friday that it will miss the deadline to file its annual report with the Securities and Exchange Commission because it needs more time to finish restatements of earnings from 2003 and 2004.

The Kansas City-based tax preparer also plans to delay releasing its first quarter results until Sept. 1. It had previously planned to announce those results on Aug. 18.

The company's annual report was due July 14, but H&R Block said it will file a notification with the SEC to extend the deadline to July 29.

GM set to show off cars during game

DETROIT - From the long line of Corvettes in the players' parade to HHR crossovers perched atop the center field wall, General Motors Corp. will be giving All-Star game fans constant reminders of the Motor City's biggest claim to fame.

The world's largest automaker signed an estimated $50 million deal with Major League Baseball this spring to be its national sponsor through 2007. As part of that agreement, Chevrolet is the exclusive automotive sponsor of this Tuesday's All-Star game.

GM already has placed an ad on its Renaissance Center headquarters that shows a giant baseball hitting the building and the words, ``4,612 ft.,'' the distance to Comerica Park's home plate. Detroit's Opera House and People Mover tram also feature ads.

Ruth's Chris chain ready to go public

WASHINGTON - Ruth's Chris Steak House Inc., the restaurant with the odd name, wants to add a side of stock to its servings of steak.

The company, which tempts customers with its signature ``sizzling'' steaks cooked in 1,800-degree broilers and topped with seasoned butter, plans to sell 9.38 million shares at $15 to $17 each in an initial public offering expected to come to market this month. Selling holders are offering an additional 2.1 million shares.

Ruth's Chris is coming to market 40 years after Ruth Fertel mortgaged her house to open Chris Steak House near a New Orleans racetrack.

Trump property slated for auction

CAMDEN, N.J. - The Donald upped the ante Friday on his latest deal: trying to buy an Atlantic City property one of his companies already owns.

Earlier this year, when the publicly held company now known as Trump Entertainment Resorts Inc. was entering bankruptcy, some shareholders objected, saying the deal was good for Chairman Donald Trump and bad for them.

To sweeten the pot for the investors, the company agreed to auction off the Boardwalk parcel where Trump World's Fair Casino once stood and give the proceeds to the shareholders, along with $17.5 million in cash.

The land was appraised at $7.5 million and an auction is planned for September.