GDP change

Gross domestic prod uct expanded at a 5.6 percent annual rate, the Commerce Department said in its final report for the fourth quarter, instead of 5.9 percent as it had previously esti mated and the market had expected.

Lions claws

Lionsgate urged its shareholders not to ten der their shares in Carl Icahn’s offer to buy the company for $6 a share and to approve the “poi son pill” shareholder rights plan its board adopted in connection with the bid.

Toyota cuts

Toyota, the world’s No. 1 automaker, said it is stopping production at its factories in France and Britain for nine days in April and May, amid fall ing sales it partly attri buted to its recent recall woes. In early June, Toyota also plans to halt one of its two assembly lines at its Burnaston plant in Britain for five working days.

BMG deal

BMG Rights Manage ment GmbH, the music- rights venture owned by Bertelsmann AG and KKR & Co., said it has reached a binding agreement to purchase Cherry Lane Music Publishing.