Martha Stewart’s Firm Amends First-Half Loss

Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. has filed amended statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission to reflect a restatement of its loss for the first half of the year.

Martha Stewart Living said its net loss was $37.3 million, or 75 cents a share, for the six months ended June 30, compared with the loss of $39.6 million, or 80 cents, initially reported.

The New York-based media company restated its earnings because it changed its accounting policy for subscription acquisition costs in the third quarter.

Shares of Martha Stewart Living rose 65 cents to $17.90 on the New York Stock Exchange.

Martha Stewart Living, in its filings, said it expected to finish 2004 with cash and investments of $130 million.

* Playboy Enterprises Inc., publisher of the most widely read men’s magazine, said it had third-quarter net income of $1.9 million as it sold more advertising and increased online subscriptions. Sales rose 8%.

* Priceline.com Inc.’s third-quarter net income rose 2.8% despite a sales dip. The Internet retailer posted net income of $10 million, or 23 cents a share, compared with $9.7 million, or 21 cents, a year earlier.