Vietnam Airlines to buy Dreamliners

Vietnam Airlines will buy four Boeing 787 Dreamliners, above, as part of a plan to expand its fleet to meet increasing travel demands, an airline spokesman said Friday.

Chicago-based Boeing Co. expects to deliver the wide-body jetliners to the communist country in 2010. The deal would be valued at $500 million at list prices, although airlines usually negotiate discounts.

Plastics

Berry Plastics closes Kerr acquisition

Berry Plastics Corp., the parent company of PackerWare in Lawrence, said Friday that it had completed its $445 million acquisition of Kerr Group Inc.

Berry, in announcing the deal last month, said that the move would give the company a stronger presence in its closures market while adding new products to the Berry mix, including plastic vials, bottles and tubes.

With the acquisition, Berry now has 27 plants.

PackerWare makes drink cups and housewares at a 470,000-square-foot plant in Lawrence, located on North Iowa Street north of the Kansas Turnpike.

Technology

Apple shares decline

Shares of Apple Computer Inc. slid 4.5 percent Friday after reports that sales of its iPod digital music player appeared to be slowing.

Investment firm Goldman Sachs said in a report Thursday that it expected shipments of Apple’s digital music player to be flat this quarter. Internet news site AppleInsider also reported that Apple has a glut of most iPod models, especially the recently launched iPod Shuffle.

Apple also has agreed to distribute $50 vouchers to as many as 2 million iPod owners – which could cost up to $100 million – to settle a class-action suit over the iPod’s battery life.

Kansas International

Security expert to speak in Lawrence

A range of security issues facing businesses today – involving everything from business travel to corporate risk assessments – will be up for discussion next week during a Kansas International breakfast.

Michael Steinle, who has more than 15 years of experience working on environmental, health, safety and security issues, will discuss “Global Security Issues for Business” during the meeting at 7:30 a.m. Friday at Alvamar Country Club. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for students.

For more information, contact Christina Biagioli at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 865-4426, or cbiagioli@lawrencechamber.com.

Wichita

Few wheat bushels harvested before rains

Farmers around the Kiowa area cut what may be the first 8,000 bushels of winter wheat in Kansas this season before heavy rains Friday abruptly stopped harvest work.

Wheat is ripening to ready in Harper County, the Kansas Department of Commerce reported in its Friday harvest bulletin.

The first bushels brought in from the Kiowa area were running at test weights of 60 pounds per bushel, the agency said. Depending on weather, wheat harvest in the area should be in full swing Monday or Tuesday.

Elsewhere, harvest offices in Sumner, Kingman and Pratt counties were open. All reported test cutting could begin within days – if the weather cooperates.

Caldwell pegged the start on Monday, while Kingman was looking at Saturday or Sunday. Pratt predicted the start by the end of the weekend, and Wellington by Saturday or Sunday.

All the forecasts came before rain deluged much of southern Kansas late Friday.