Brunswick sales up

LAKE FOREST - Brunswick Corp. reported that first-quarter losses narrowed from a year ago, to $13 million, or 15 cents a share, from $184.2 million or $2.08 a diluted share.

Sales rose 15 percent, to $844.4 million.

The maker of boats and recreational products is optimistic that weakness in those sectors will not be as bad as forecast. It's stock surged 27 percent to $22.69 at the end of the day Thursday in New York Stock Exchange trading.