Crude oil prices fell below $64 a barrel on profit taking and mild winter weather. Light sweet crude for February delivery dropped 71 cents to $63.50 a barrel. Gasoline fell 4 cents to $1.7725 a gallon. Heating oil traded down 4 cents to $1.7610. Natural gas dropped 34 cents to $9.29 per 1,000 cubic feet. London Brent slipped 57 cents to $62.15.

European gold climbed on inflation worries and weaker dollar against the yen. In London gold rose to $542.60 per troy ounce from $536.30. In Zurich the precious metal advanced to $541.55 from $537.40. In Hong Kong gold climbed $13.20 to close at $542. Silver closed at $9.08, up from $8.96.

The U.S. dollar traded mixed against major currencies. The euro was quoted at $1.2072, down from $1.2155. The dollar bought 114.31 yen, down from 114.39. The British pound traded at $1.7636, down from $1.7708.

EARNINGS NEWS

Benihana Inc (BNHNA: chart), operator of Japanese and sushi theme restaurants announced same-restaurant sales advanced 7.4% in Q3. Total sales for period rose 11.6% compared to last year’s period.

Triad Hospitals Inc. (TRI: chart), healthcare company, reported Q4 earnings will be in the range of $0.65 to $0.67 a share on revenue of $1.3 billion, compared to earnings of $0.66 a share on revenue of $1.14 billion in 2004, missing on that basis analysts’ expectations of Q4 earnings of $0.69 a share. The company expects to report a provision for doubtful accounts of 9.4% to 9.6% of net revenue for the quarter and added that earnings for 2005 will be in the range of $2.78 to $2.80 a share on revenue of $4.7 billion.

Emmis Broadcasting Corp, (EMMS: chart), broadcasting company, posted Q3 net income of $5.30 a share, including $197.5 million, or $5.29 a share, from discontinued operations primarily reflecting results from the company''s TV business. Income from continuing operations was to 1 cent a share, down from 7 cents for the year-ago quarter, beating analyst estimate for a loss of 1 cent a share. Emmis adjusted revenue came to $100.5 million for Q3, up 11% from the prior year''s $90.2 million. The lower profit from continuing operations stemmed from higher interest costs incurred as a result of borrowings to finance the company''s Dutch auction tender completed last June.

Helen of Troy Ltd (HELE: chart), maker of curling irons, skin care products and garden tools, reported that Q3 net earnings fell to 72 cents a share, down from 97 cents a share in the year-earlier period, missing analyst estimate of 77 cents a share. Sales in Q3 fell 4%. Analysts, on average, had expected to post earnings of 77 cents a share. The company blamed weakness in its personal care segment for the earnings shortfall, as well as a number of economic factors that may continue to pressure fourth-quarter results.

Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc (SCHN: chart), steelmaker, reported Q1 net income of $1.34 a share, compared with $1.41 a share in the year-earlier period. Revenue in Q1 advanced to $281.4 million from $144.5 million as the company said it sold some assets and recorded a charge of $11 million to settle federal investigations into past payment practices in Asia.

CORPORATE NEWS

Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX: chart) said it formally bid to acquire Guidant Corp. (GDT: chart) for $25 billion. The purchasing price includes $36 in cash and $36 in Boston Scientific stock, or $72 a share, the same terms it had proposed in an informal bid made on Dec. 5. Boston Scientific also revealed details of its formal bid for Guidant, which it said represented a 12% premium over the price offered by existing merger partner, Johnson & Johnson.

Tyco International Ltd. is considering a plan that would split off from the $60 billion conglomerate both its electronics and health-care businesses in tax-free transactions. The slimmed-down version of Tyco would consist of its security, fire-protection, pump and valve operations.

Duke agreed to sell much of its North American wholesale power generation assets to LS Power Equity Partners for about $1.48 billion, an amount that could rise to as much as $1.54 billion if certain performance targets are met. The energy company will keep its Midwest facilities.