REGION

REGION

Angee Shaker joins Regional Chamber

YOUNGSTOWN — Angee Shaker has joined the Regional Chamber as vice president of education and workplace development. Among the areas that she will be involved with include the “From Steel to Scholars” program, the Community College Council, the Pre-school to 16 Council and the Regional Talent Network.

She previously was the main anchor at WYTV News. She was the public voice of the “From Steel to Scholars” program in partnership with the Regional Chamber for more than four years.

NATION

Rates on 30-year, 15-year mortgages drop

WASHINGTON — Rates on 30-year mortgages fell below 6 percent this week, recording the first decline in three weeks.

Freddie Mac, the mortgage company, reported Thursday that 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages averaged 5.94 percent this week, down from 6.10 percent last week. It marked the first decline since rates fell on Sept. 18 to 5.78 percent, a seven-month low.

Rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, which are popular with people who are refinancing, dropped to 5.63 percent, compared with 5.78 percent last week.

Citigroup ends talks with Wells Fargo

NEW YORK — Citigroup says it has ended negotiations with Wells Fargo in their fight to acquire Wachovia.

Citigroup says it believes it has strong legal claims against Wachovia and Wells Fargo for breach of contract and plans to pursue its claims vigorously.

Citigroup agreed last week to buy Wachovia’s banking operations for $2.1 billion in a deal orchestrated by the government. Four days later, Wells Fargo stunned Citigroup by announcing that Wachovia’s board had agreed to an $11.7 billion all-stock offer.

From staff and wire reports