REGION

REGION
Farmers declares dividend
CANFIELD -- Farmers National Banc Corp. declared a quarterly dividend of 15 cents a share, payable June 30 to shareholders of record June 13. It paid a dividend of 14 cents a share last June.
NATION
Staples' profits fall;chain is part of inquiry
BOSTON -- No. 1 office supply chain Staples Inc. saw first-quarter profits fall on an accounting change and separately disclosed it is one of several major New England retailers contacted in an informal Securities and Exchange Commission inquiry into accounting practices.
Framingham-based Staples said Tuesday that profits fell 74 percent to $25 million, or 5 cents per share, from $94 million, or 20 cents per share, in a quarter last year that included a one-time tax benefit.
Paul Capelli, a spokesman for Framingham, Mass.-based Staples, said the accounting change was unrelated to the inquiry, though both concern how the company records its financial dealings with vendors.
Home Depot enjoysrecord 1st-quarter profit
ATLANTA -- The Home Depot Inc. said customer service improvements, advertising and stocked shelves are paying off, leading to a record first-quarter profit that topped Wall Street expectations. Company shares surged more than 9 percent Tuesday.
Atlanta-based Home Depot said earnings improved to $907 million, or 39 cents a share, compared with earnings of $856 million, or 36 cents a share, in the same period last year. The results were 2 cents better than the 37 cents predicted by analysts surveyed by Thomson First Call.
From Vindicator staff and wire reports