Business & Finance

Motion picture studio executives planned to postpone indefinitely at least two new releases that deal with terrorism against Americans, including Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Collateral Damage." Advertising, promotional campaigns, and Web sites devoted to such content also were to be pulled. Similar films not yet ready for release were to be reexamined in the aftermath of the Pentagon and World Trade Center attacks. ABC-TV canceled tomorrow's scheduled showing of "The Peacemaker," a film about nuclear terrorists. Fox pulled "Independence Day," which features the blowing up of the White House and the Empire State Building. NBC said it would delay its fall schedule, set to begin Monday, by at least a week, regardless of program content.

Corporate America opened the gates for aid to surviving victims of Tuesday's terrorism, the families of those killed, and for cleanup operations. General Electric pledged $10 million. Microsoft announced donations of $5 million in cash and $5 million in software and equipment. Cisco Systems and Wells Fargo donated $6 million and $1 million, respectively, to the Red Cross. The National Association of Realtors established and contributed $1 million to a fund to help pay the mortgages or rental costs of families affected by the attacks. Among other early aid donors: the Knights of Columbus, the Walgreen drug store chain, Unocal Corp, Motorola, the New England supermarket chain Stop & Shop, Software Shelf International, and the Southeastern Conference via proceeds from its football season.

Midway Airlines suspended all flight operations, effective immediately, citing the impact of the terrorist attacks on its precarious financial situation. The decision threw 1,700 employees out of work. The Raleigh, N.C.-based carrier, which filed for bankruptcy protection Aug. 13, already had discontinued service to nine destinations, blaming a sudden fall in business travel and increased competition.