51.   Jamesway Corp. said it signed confidentiality and standstill agreements with four parties who expressed interest in acquiring the discount retailer.

52.   Kmart Corp. named Floyd Hall, who headed a rival discount retailer and a supermarket chain, as its chairman, chief executive and president.

53.   Kmart, Woolco and Target joined the ranks of big discount retailers at the same time.

54.   Kmart Corp. said it plans to add aging comedian Bob Hope to its roster of celebrity boosters as the discount retailer gears up for the holidays.

55.   Kmart and Caldor face fierce competition from big discount retailers, such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc.

56.   Kmart Corp. said the president of its U.S. operations, Warren Flick, is retiring because of a serious neck condition, after two years at the discount retailer.

57.   Mexican stocks fell, led by discount appliance retailer Grupo Elektra SA, on concern shares have risen as far as company earnings warrant.

58.   Nor is the interior lighting standard-issue for a large discount retailer.

59.   Other signs of a less-than-robust economy include soft retail sales, reflected in recent bankruptcies among discount retailers such as Caldor Corp. and Bradlees Inc.

60.   People like Donald Perkins, who this year briefly was non-executive chairman of KMart, the embattled discount retailer, flocked to Smale for advice.