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MEXICO'S ELECTRA TO PUMP $120 MILLION INTO GROWTH 

MEXICO CITY - Elektra, a specialty retailer and banking conglomerate, has said it will spend $120 million in capital expenditures this year to open 100 new stores and relocate 30 others.
 
So far this year, 25 new stores have opened and 13 have been relocated, the company has said.

Grupo Elektra SA de CV runs a chain of electronics and appliance stores across the country and in late 2002 launched Banco Azteca, a banking and financial services operation inside the stores.

It reported healthy growth in retail and banking operations recently, with a 21% rise in revenues and a 7% increase in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization compared with the same quarter last year.

Net profit fell nearly 35% due to higher financial costs and other expenses, although analysts said it was within expectations.

Costs associated with training and start-up in the company's fast-growing financial services operations offset some gains, company executives and analysts said, although they said the quarter was positive.

UNITED INTRODUCES MULTILINGUAL CHECK-IN

CHICAGO - United Airlines' self-service check-in kiosks now have two new language options that enable travelers who speak Spanish or French as their primary language to check-in for their flights.

The new service is part of the carrier's effort to help customers quicken their check-in time by avoiding lines and printing their own boarding pass.

United's EasyCheck-in kiosks have a major presence at every one of its hubs, and, by this fall, will be available at every United check-in area within the US.

Other enhancements to the EasyCheck-in kiosks coming this year include new ways to search for a reservation, more language options and the ability to reprint boarding passes.

EasyCheck-in kiosks currently enable United passengers to print domestic or international outbound from the US boarding passes; change flights; request standby for an earlier flight; process and issue a new boarding pass for flights impacted by weather or other irregularities; view a real-time seat map; request or change seat assignments; request or redeem an upgrade; add a Mileage Plus number to a reservation for credit; print an e-ticket receipt; and check baggage at select locations.

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