BUSINESS NOTES AMGEN WAITS FOR ARANESP OK.

Byline: - Staff and Wire Reports

THOUSAND OAKS - Amgen Inc. said Friday that although discussions with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration are progressing, the company did not receive FDA approval for Aranesp in the first half of the year as it had expected.

Amgen said it is encouraged that progress is being made in getting Aranesp approved for treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease.

Analysts said the announcement does not signal any significant problem with getting the drug approved.

Amgen's stock lost 79 cents Friday to close at $61.88.

GE, Honeywell's deal sinking fast

General Electric's proposed acquisition of Honeywell International appeared all but dead - still - Friday after GE's Chairman, Jack Welch, rejected a last-ditch modification by Honeywell aimed at satisfying European regulators.

Friction between the companies took center stage as GE appeared to give up on the deal and Honeywell tried to push it forward.

Honeywell offered to accept about $1.8 billion less than previously agreed to make more palatable to GE the divestitures sought by European Union regulators. The deal, valued at $45 billion, may become the first between two American companies to be thwarted solely because of European antitrust concerns.

HP urges workers to help trim costs

PALO ALTO - Computer and printer giant Hewlett-Packard Co. has asked its 45,000 U.S. employees to take pay cuts or use additional vacation days in an effort to trim costs.

According to a memo released Thursday, employees have three choices: a 10 percent pay cut, eight additional paid vacation days, or a 5 percent cut and four additional vacation days. The program is not mandatory.

The vacation must be taken before the end of October, when HP's fiscal year ends. The pay cuts would last through Oct. 31.

Accrued vacation days are a liability, the company says, and the program would help HP save money.