BRIEFCASE.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Services

5 Internet escrow firms shut down

SACRAMENTO - California regulators on Thursday ordered five more unlicensed Internet escrow companies to stop selling in the state, bringing the number of shutdown orders to 38 since May.

The companies offer to hold funds in a trust account until a promised action or delivery of goods or services has been completed.

Just one Internet-based escrow company is among the 650 independent escrow companies licensed in California.

DirecTV offers new media system

SAN JOSE - Joining the crowded field of companies offering networked media gadgets for the home, satellite TV provider DirecTV said Thursday it has developed a system for sending video, music and pictures to multiple televisions in the house.

The DirecTV Home Media Center, which consists of a receiver and smaller boxes that connect to each TV, also will let each TV control the digital video recorder. And multiple sets can access different channels at the same time, said Bob Marsocci, a DirecTV spokesman.

The equipment, which also supports high-definition television, would be linked either by coaxial or Ethernet cable.

Mortgage rates drop nationally

WASHINGTON - Mortgage rates around the country moved lower this week, marking a good start to a new year of home buying.

Freddie Mac's weekly survey of mortgage rates released Thursday showed that rates on 30-year, fixed rate mortgages averaged 5.77 percent for the week ending Jan. 6.

That was down from last week's 5.81 percent.

Credit-card report mixed

WASHINGTON - The number of people past due on their credit-card bills fell a bit in the third quarter of 2004 versus the prior quarter, but delinquency rates for other consumer loans rose, the American Bankers Association said Thursday.

About 4.26 percent of credit-card accounts were past due in the third quarter, down slightly from 4.28 percent in the second quarter, but up from 4.09 percent in the third quarter of 2003.

Toy sales down for Christmas

TRENTON, N.J. - Toy sales dipped 1.4 percent during the crucial holiday sales period at struggling Toys R Us Inc., which saw tiny decreases in U.S., international and Internet revenues, but may have gained some market share because of price discounts and selection.

The nation's No. 2 toy retailer, which has been struggling against discounters such as No. 1 toy seller Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said Thursday it won't immediately discuss whether it will pursue splitting its global toy business from its Babies R Us chain.