‘Halo2’ scores big

As one of the most anticipated video games ever, “Halo 2” is ringing up major sales points after three years in development.

Across the nation, fans lined up for hours at some 7,000 planned “midnight madness” events Tuesday to get first crack at the $50 game, a sequel from Microsoft Corp.

Microsoft said it had 1.5 million copies of the game pre-ordered and predicted first-day sales of more than $100 million.

Atchison

MGP Ingredients shares rise on earnings report

Shares of MGP Ingredients Inc. climbed nearly 9 percent Tuesday after the Atchison-based producers of grain products reported increased sales of specialty ingredients.

MGP had reported profits Monday of $291,000, or 2 cents per share, on sales of $68.9 million for the quartered ended Sept. 30. That compared with profits of $2.74 million, or 16 cents a share, on sales of $57.1 million a year earlier.

The company attributed the decrease in profits to declining government subsidies and a one-time insurance settlement received a year ago. MGP shares closed Tuesday at $9.19, up 74 cents, on Nasdaq.

Crop report

Wheat planting nears end

Kansas farmers are planting the last of their 2005 winter wheat crop, the Kansas Agriculture Statistics Service said this week.

In its weekly crop summary, the agency reported that 96 percent of the wheat crop was seeded. About 86 percent has emerged.

Wheat condition was reported as 12 percent excellent, 68 percent good, 17 percent fair and 3 percent poor to very poor.

Insurance

Marsh & McLennan plans to shed 3,000 jobs

Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc., the nation’s largest insurance broker, said Tuesday that it would lay off 3,000 employees, or about 5 percent of its work force, because of fallout from a bid-rigging probe by New York Atty. Gen. Eliot Spitzer.

Communications

Shares, subscribers climb at EchoStar

EchoStar Communications Corp. on Tuesday reported its third-quarter earnings nearly tripled as the parent company of Dish Network, the nation’s second largest satellite TV service, added about 350,000 subscribers.

EchoStar said its net income was $102 million, or 22 cents per share, for the quarter ended Sept. 30. That was up from $35 million, or 7 cents per share, during the same period in 2003.

Regulation

SEC seeks stronger market governance

The nation’s stock exchanges would be forced to tighten their governance and move toward separating their self-policing function from their business operations under a plan proposed by federal regulators Tuesday.

The Securities and Exchange Commission agreed to open to public comment proposed new rules for the exchanges’ governance, ownership structure and required disclosures.