Also. . .

* Equifax Inc., the largest U.S. consumer-credit reporting service, said it agreed to buy R.L. Polk & Co.’s lifestyle and demographic data units for $260 million. The units of closely held Polk, based in Southfield, Mich., provide information on buying patterns and preferences from 105 million households. Equifax said the data will help build its direct-marketing business and its credit information, payment and electronic-commerce services.