Finish Line reports loss, books merger costs

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Athletic shoe retailer Finish Line Inc (FINL.O) posted a quarterly loss on Thursday as it booked $81.5 million in costs related to its scuttled merger with Genesco Inc (GCO.N).

The company, which has struggled for over a year amid a prolonged slump in the athletic shoe retail market, posted a net loss of $38.8 million, or 82 cents per share. It had net income of $21.1 million, or 44 cents per share, in the year earlier quarter ended March 3.

(Reporting by Lisa Baertlein and Alexandria Sage)