BRIEFLY : EARNINGS

Neiman Marcus Group Inc. said profit plunged 83% in its fiscal fourth quarter to $2.72 million, or 6 cents a share, a penny higher than analyst estimates, as it marked down prices and moved up a sales promotion. Sales rose 5.3% to $565.4 million at the upscale department store chain. A 1.3% decline in July sales at stores open at least a year forced the company to discount merchandise to make room for new goods. The company also moved a promotion to April from May, pushing some sales into its third quarter ended May 1. Publisher Harcourt General Inc., which owns 54% of Neiman Marcus, plans to spin off its stake later this year. Shares of Chestnut Hill, Mass.-based Neiman Marcus rose 69 cents to close at $22.25 on the NYSE.