Salomon Inc.: The New York-based firm said...

Salomon Inc.: The New York-based firm said it lost $28 million in the first quarter, with profits in the company’s energy division partially compensating for $150 million in losses by the company’s securities and commodities arms. The loss was the latest in a series of gloomy reports by Wall Street firms attributed to a sluggish securities business. Salomon, the parent of Salomon Bros., said the loss compared to a year earlier profit of $173 million. Revenue declined 4.3% to $1.54 billion. The firm said a $72-million pretax loss was reduced by a $44-million income tax benefit.