Ryder System Inc., Miami, lowered its projected global pension expense...

Ryder System Inc., Miami, lowered its projected global pension expense for 2004 to $66 million, from $76 million, following strong investment gains on plan assets last year, the company announced today. The plan gained 24% on investments in 2003, said Lisa Brumfield, spokeswoman. The company recorded a 2003 pension expense of $82 million. Ryder's plan for U.S. employees had $813 million in assets as of Dec. 31; the total global plan assets could not be learned by press time.