PLUS BUSINESS

Rand McNally maps out sale plans Rand McNally, the world's largest commercial map maker, said todayit is exploring the possible sale of the company. Rand McNally saidit made the decision to ensure its future growth and also because ofthe high value of media properties in today's market. The companyhas retained investment firm Goldman Sachs to assist in exploring itsoptions. Rand McNally, which is privately held, was founded in 1856in Chicago.Xerox sues U.S. RoboticsXerox Corp. has sued U.S. Robotics Corp. for alleged patentinfringement by U.S. Robotics' Pilot hand-held computer and itsseparately sold Graffiti software. Xerox said today it is seekingtreble damages and an injunction, claiming U.S. Robotics' allegedinfringement was "willful and deliberate." The suit was filed Mondayin U.S. District Court in Rochester, N.Y. A U.S. Roboticsspokeswoman declined immediate comment.Savings bond interest changingIn response to sagging sales, the government is planning to changethe way it calculates interest on U.S. Savings Bonds to provideinvestors a better return. The change, to be announced by TreasurySecretary Robert Rubin at a news conference scheduled today, willaffect millions of Americans, many of modest means, who use the bondsto save for their children's education or as holiday and birthdaygifts. For the past two years, the Treasury Department has had atwo-tier system. For the first five years after purchase, a holderof a Series EE bond would be paid 85 percent of the average marketrate on six-month Treasury bills. After that, the bonds would earn85 percent of the rate on five-year Treasury notes. Under the new,simpler system, all bonds issued starting Thursday will earn 90percent of the five-year note average.AT&T to raise some business ratesAT&T Corp. said it will raise prices on some business long-distanceservices to make up for monthly payments of $47.2 million it's nowrequired to make to local phone companies that operate pay phones.The No. 1 U.S. long-distance company said that effective Thursday itwill boost prices 7 percent for interstate phone calls to toll-freenumbers and raise rates 2 percent for interstate and internationalcalls made by businesses. Under the Telecommunications Act of 1996,the U.S. Federal Communications Commission now requires long-distancephone companies to pay local pay phone operators for coinless calls,which include calls made with credit cards and calls made totoll-free numbers.S&P raises UAL debt ratingsUAL Corp.'s credit rating was raised by Standard & Poor's Corp.,which cited "strong and growing earnings" and progress in reducingits debt. The credit rating company raised the rating on $6 billionof debt issued by UAL and its subsidiary United Air Lines one notchto "BB+" from "BB." UAL's rising earnings and reduced labor costssupport the higher rating, S&P said. In 1994, employees received 55percent of UAL in exchange for $4.8 billion in wage concessions.Soybeans jump on forecastSoybean futures prices surged to 8 1/2-year highs today on theChicago Board of Trade after a respected forecaster reiterated thatsupplies could run out at a time when Chinese demand appearsinsatiable. Willard Sparks, head of the Memphis, Tenn.-basedresearch group Sparks Cos., predicted the United States would have120 million bushels of soybeans left over by Sept. 1 - less than atwo-week supply and 30 million bushels short of what would beconsidered a comfortable amount. The expiring contract for Maysoybeans rose 22 cents to $8.89 1/2 a bushel - the highest closesince the $8.93 1/2 reached on September 14, 1988. July soybeansrose 21 1/4 cents to $8.87 a bushel; May corn rose 3 1/2 cents to$2.95 a bushel; July wheat rose 10 1/2 cents to $4.33 1/2 a bushel;May oats rose 5 3/4 cents to $1.72 1/4 a bushel.