COMPUTERS Hewlett-Packard estimates costs for job cuts

Hewlett-Packard added 4,000 employees in the fourth quarter.
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Hewlett-Packard Co. expects to incur roughly $200 million in expenses for work-force reductions slated for the first half of fiscal 2005.
As part of the computer giant's ongoing cost-structure management, it routinely reviews the size of its work force and makes adjustments deemed appropriate, HP said in a document filed Tuesday with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The filing did not specify how many jobs would be cut.
Despite previously stated efforts to reduce its work force, HP added 4,000 employees in the fiscal fourth quarter ended Oct. 31 for a total of 150,000 worldwide, chairman and chief executive Carly Fiorina said last week when HP announced results for the quarter and full year.
HP said Tuesday the reductions will occur across its various businesses and will have a net impact of roughly 4 cents a share in the first half of fiscal 2005.
HP last week estimated that revenue in the first half of fiscal 2005 would be between $41.8 billion and $42.3 billion, with earnings per share, excluding items, of between 72 cents and 74 cents.
For the recently ended fiscal 2004, HP's net revenue was $79.9 billion, up $6.8 billion.