Also:

* Applied Materials Inc., the biggest supplier of equipment used to make computer chips, said it is paring its work force to cut costs. The Santa Clara, Calif.-based company said it offered voluntary separation packages to about 1,000 employees, mostly in Santa Clara and Austin, Texas. The company has about 22,000 employees. Shares fell $2.06 to $46.13 on Nasdaq.

* Intel Corp. said it will streamline its operations by combining its communications products and network groups. The chip-making giant also said it is putting on hold for a second time a planned expansion at a chip-fabrication facility in Ireland.

* Nextel International, the international arm of wireless telephone company Nextel Communications Inc., said it decided against an initial public stock offering because of adverse market conditions.