Business news briefs — Jan. 22
LOCAL BUSINESSOmnova profit jumpsOmnova Solutions Inc., the Fairlawn surfaces and laminates maker and supplier of specialty chemicals, said its profit jumped to $7.9 million, or 17 cents a share, for...
View ArticleFirstEnergy slashes quarterly dividend by 34 percent
FirstEnergy Corp.’s decision to cut its quarterly dividend by 34 percent was to align it with the utility’s regulated operations and “provide the best path forward,” its leader said Wednesday in a...
View ArticleTwo Akron-area applicants among 27 for Public Utilities Commission of Ohio...
Two Akron-area men are among 27 applicants for a seat on the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.The vacancy is to replace PUCO Chairman Todd A. Snitchler, of Stark County, who decided not to seek...
View ArticleTarget to end health plans for part-time workers
Target Corp. said it will end health insurance for part-time employees, joining Trader Joe’s Co., Home Depot Inc. and other retailers that have scaled back benefits in response to changes from...
View ArticleDow has 41-point drop
NEW YORK: The stock market was mixed on Wednesday as investors pored over more earnings reports.The Dow Jones industrial average fell 41.10 points to 16,373.34. IBM accounted for most the Dow’s loss...
View ArticleInvolta expanding data storage in South Akron
The amount of data is exploding and companies, hospitals, schools and other institutions need a secure place to store all the gazillion bits of information.That’s where places such as the Involta data...
View ArticleWeekly applications for U.S. jobless aid mostly flat
WASHINGTON: The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits ticked up 1,000 last week to a seasonally adjusted 326,000, a level consistent with steady job gains.The Labor Department says the...
View ArticleSummit County, Northeast Ohio home sales reach highest point in several...
WASHINGTON: Sales of existing U.S. homes edged up slightly in December, helping to lift sales for the year to the highest level in seven years.Sales increased to an annual rate of 4.87 million units...
View ArticleGauge of U.S. economy’s health rises 0.1 percent
WASHINGTON: A measure of the economy’s health rose modestly in December, suggesting that growth will remain steady early this year.The Conference Board said Thursday that its index of leading...
View ArticleAverage U.S. rate on 30-year mortgage declines to 4.39 percent
WASHINGTON: Average U.S. rates for fixed mortgages changed little this week.Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac says the average for the 30-year loan declined to 4.39 percent from 4.41 percent last week. The...
View ArticleStudy: Climbing income ladder hasn’t grown harder
WASHINGTON: Young Americans from low-income families are as likely to move into the ranks of the affluent today as those born in the 1970s, according to a report by several top academic experts on...
View ArticleKeyCorp shares decline as expenses rose more than expected
Shares in KeyCorp, the top performer last year in the KBW Bank Index, fell the most in four months on Thursday as fourth-quarter expenses exceeded the Cleveland lender’s forecast.KeyCorp’s stock price...
View ArticleBusiness news briefs — Jan. 23
EARNINGSMcDonald’s sales declineMcDonald’s Corp. reported that in the United States., where it recently revamped its Dollar Menu to include items that cost a little more, quarterly sales fell 1.4...
View ArticleUtility dividend promise fades as weak sales erode company earnings
The promise by utilities of providing steady returns and plump dividends to investors is fading as growing competition erodes prices and profits.FirstEnergy Corp., owner of electricity providers in six...
View ArticleApple’s Mac still influences, 30 years after debut
Many of the electronic gadgets today drew inspiration from the original Mac computer.Computers at the time typically required people to type in commands. Once the Mac came out 30 years ago today,...
View ArticleLauren unveils Olympic uniforms — made in USA
NEW YORK: Designer Ralph Lauren’s new Olympic opening ceremony uniform has lots of stars and stripes. It has lots of red, white and blue. And most importantly, it has a Made in America label.The new...
View ArticleHome sales in region, state rise; market still recovering
Tony Pietro of Bath Township doesn’t need to be told that the housing market continued to improve last year. “We sold our house in one day. We had four or five offers in the first day,” Pietro said,...
View ArticleOhio unemployment rate drops from previous month to 7.2 percent, remains...
COLUMBUS: Ohio officials say the state’s unemployment rate dropped again in December.The Ohio Department of Job and Family Services says the state jobless rate was 7.2 percent last month. That’s down...
View ArticleUnion hopes to retain more Ford workers in Northeast Ohio
LORAIN, OHIO: Union leaders are trying to save some of the 900 Ford Motor Co. jobs threatened with layoffs in northeast Ohio.The effort involves the Ohio General Assembly Plant in Avon Lake, west of...
View ArticleBusiness news briefs — Jan. 24
LOCAL BUSINESSBeacon hires executiveLori Ann Carver will join the Akron Beacon Journal as vice president of advertising Feb. 3.Carver has an extensive background in advertising. She currently is...
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