PITTSBURGH — A federal judge said the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center can keep a recent agreement with rival Highmark, sealed from public view.

Judge Joy Flowers Conti agreed with the UPMC request in a ruling issued Tuesday.

Highmark and UPMC have been involved in a series of bitter legal disputes, but on May 2 the companies agreed to an 18-month extension on a regional health care contract.

The agreement between UPMC and Highmark is an exhibit in a lawsuit between the two healthcare giants.

UPMC has asked Conti to put the lawsuit on hold. Conti hasn’t ruled on that request yet.

Target raises profit outlookNEW YORK — Target raised its profit outlook Wednesday after reporting better-than-expected first-quarter results that were boosted by increased spending on food and cheap chic fashions.Like most retailers, Target has had the challenge of trying to find ways of luring cautious U.S. shoppers into stores amid a flood of mixed economic news that has them scrutinizing every purchase.Target recently has had success drawing customers into stores with two growth initiatives. It has been offering a larger selection of food and a program it started in 2010 that gives shoppers a 5 percent discount when they pay with Target-branded credit and debit cards.The retailer, based in Minneapolis, said profit rose 1.2 percent to $697 million, or $1.04 per share, in the quarter ended April 28. That compares with $689 million, or 99 cents per share, in the year-ago period. Excluding costs associated with its expansion into Canada next year, the per-share results would have been $1.11. Revenue rose 5.9 percent to $16.86 billion.

FTC says shoe ads were deceptiveWASHINGTON — The government wants you to know that simply sporting a pair of Skechers’ fitness shoes is not going to get you Kim Kardashian’s curves or Brooke Burke’s toned tush.Skechers USA will pay $40 million to settle charges by the Federal Trade Commission that the footwear company made unfounded claims that its Shape-ups shoes would help people lose weight and strengthen their butt, leg and stomach muscles. Kardashian, Burke and other celebrities endorsed the shoes in Skechers ads.Wednesday’s settlement also involves the company’s Resistance Runner, Toners, and Tone-ups shoes. Skechers made deceptive claims about those shoes, too, said the agency.Consumers who bought the shoes will be eligible for refunds, though it’s not clear how much money people will get. The FTC said that will depend on how many claims are received in the eight-month filing period. Most of the $40 million will be returned to consumers, the commission said. A small amount will be used to administer the payouts.