USA Interactive Expects Higher Profit

USA Interactive expects profit before some expenses to rise 66% annually as more consumers use its Internet commerce sites, which include online travel agency Expedia, Vice Chairman Victor Kaufman said.

Kaufman also said USA probably would make more acquisitions in 2003 than it did this year. USA is trying to buy companies whose sales can be boosted on the Internet. This year, those included time- share-resort operator Interval Acquisition Corp.

Shares of New York-based USA Interactive fell $1.44 to $24.50 on Nasdaq.