Sox uniforms to sport EMC logo during Japan games

When the Boston Red Sox take the field in Tokyo in late March for their first two games of the season, they'll be wearing the corporate logo of EMC Corp., the giant data storage firm in Hopkinton. It's the first time Red Sox players have ever worn a corporate brand on their uniforms, other than those of sporting goods companies. The logo is intended to highlight EMC's new role as an official sponsor of Major League Baseball Japan, and an expanded business relationship with the Red Sox. An official of Major League Baseball said there are no plans to permit the practice in the United States. (Hiawatha Bray)

Medical device maker Abiomed says the Food and Drug Administration has approved system upgrades to its AbioCor implantable replacement heart. The device replaces severely damaged hearts in patients not eligible for a transplant or other treatments. (AP)

The volume of condominium sales in many Boston neighborhoods fell 12 percent in the fourth quarter, as the median sales price for a condo dipped 4.1 percent to $465,000 from the same period a year earlier, Listing Information Network reported. LINK tracks condo sales in Boston neighborhoods including the Back Bay, Beacon Hill, and Charlestown. During the fourth quarter, 638 condos were sold in the neighborhoods LINK follows, down from 725 sold in the fourth quarter of 2006. The 2007 median selling price for an urban condo was $460,000, up 2.7 percent from the 2006 median selling price, LINK's figures showed. (Chris Reidy)

A property management firm has agreed to pay up to $158,000 to settle allegations that it discriminated against Cambodian-Americans who tried to rent apartments, the US Department of Justice said. Pine Properties Inc. and six affiliate companies would pay up to $114,000 to compensate victims under the settlement. The settlement also requires Pine to pay a $44,000 fine. The defendants, who own and operate 13 rental properties in Lowell, refused to show available apartments to Cambodian-Americans who didn't have appointments, while white people were shown apartments immediately without appointments, the department said. A phone message seeking comment from Pine Properties was not immediately returned. (AP)

Apple Inc. said yesterday its fiscal first-quarter earnings jumped about 57 percent, aided by iPod and iPhone sales, but shares plunged on an outlook that was well below expectations. For the quarter ended Dec. 29, Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple earned $1.58 billion, or $1.76 per share, compared with $1.0 billion, or $1.14 per share, in the year-ago quarter. The company's revenue rose year over year to $9.61 billion from $7.12 billion. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial expected first-quarter earnings of $1.62 per share on $9.47 billion in revenue. Apple shares fell $19.37, or 12.3 percent, to $138.08 in after-hours trading. (AP)

Milford's Waters Corp., which makes analytical instruments, said fourth-quarter profit rose 24 percent but fell below analysts' expectations. The company reported net income of $98.9 million, or 96 cents per share, compared with $79.9 million, or 78 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Fourth-quarter 2006 results include restructuring and other expenses related to a cost-reduction plan implemented in February 2006 and an impairment charge of $5.8 million. On an adjusted basis, fourth-quarter earnings per-share rose 17 percent to 98 cents from 84 cents. Total sales rose 13 percent to $437 million from $386.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2006. Analysts polled by Thomson Financial, on average, estimated earnings of $1.06 per share on sales of $437.2 million. Shares fell $14.56 to $58.67. (AP)

Johnson & Johnson, the world's largest health products maker, said earnings increased 9.5 percent on rising sales of consumer items, such as Listerine mouthwash, acquired from Pfizer Inc., about a year ago. Fourth-quarter net income rose to $2.37 billion, or 82 cents a share, from $2.17 billion, or 74 cents, a year earlier, the New Brunswick, N.J. company said. Earnings beat by 2 cents the 86-cent estimate of 17 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. Consumer revenue rose 49 percent on sales of drugstore items. That revenue offset declines for Cypher heart stents and the Procrit anemia drug. J&J shares fell 98 cents to $65.31. (Bloomberg)