Also. . .

The Transportation Department said it postponed indefinitely public hearings on the planned alliance between British Airways and AMR Corp.’s American Airlines after the collapse of aviation trade talks with Britain earlier this week. U.S. negotiators walked away from the talks, citing a lack of progress on key issues, including liberal route rights and open pricing.

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* Shell Oil Co., the U.S. arm of Royal Dutch/Shell Group, said it will fire 20% of its exploration and production work force, or about 740 employees, as it grapples with low oil prices and falling profit.

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* Stride Rite Corp. said it will stop selling shoes bearing the Levi Strauss & Co. name, three months after introducing them, because of disappointing sales.

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* Fannie Mae, the nation’s largest source of home mortgages, said California’s improving economy and record-low interest rates helped boost its third-quarter profit 10.6% to $857.4 million, or 81 cents a diluted share, matching analyst estimates.