Business digest || Macy’s posts income

Macy’s posts income

cincinnati

Macy’s Inc.’s net income surged in the second quarter as the department store chain saw a payoff from its focus on exclusive moderate-price fashions and tailoring merchandise to local markets. The company boosted its profit and sales outlook.

The chain said Wednesday that it posted net income of $147 million, or 35 cents per share, for the period ended July 31. That compares with $7 million, or 2 cents per share, in last year’s second quarter. Revenue rose 7.2 percent to $5.54 billion.

Joining efforts

new york

Simon Property Group, the nation’s largest mall operator, is teaming up with technology startup company Shopkick to reward smart-phone-equipped shoppers for walking into its shopping centers. Shopkick’s application — for iPhones and Android phones — tells retailers when shoppers are in stores, letting them beam ads and coupons to passers-by. Simon, which briefly merged with Youngstown’s DeBartolo Realty Corp. in 1996, is partly owned by the DeBartolo family.

Call ‘Dig’ hot line

erie, pa.

National Fuel wants to remind Pennsylvania homeowners to call the national “Call Before You Dig” hot line at 811, or visit www.call811.com, before beginning any excavation projects this year. The notification is required by state law to prevent accidental damage to underground utility lines.

The hot-line operators will record the location of the excavation and notify National Fuel of the caller’s plans. The company will then dispatch a professional locator to mark the approximate location of National Fuel’s lines for free.

Homeowners and contractors should call 811 between three and 10 business days before the start of a project.

Vindicator staff/wire reports

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .58, 19.43 —.53

Avalon Holdings,2.57.00

Clear Channel, 1.75 53.07 —1.84

Cortland Bancorp, 5.15.00

Delphi Automotive, .02 .00

Farmers Nat., .12, 3.90 .00

First Energy, $2.20, 36.28—1.05

FirstMerit Corp., .64,18.52 —1.06

First Niles Financial,7.20.05

First Place Fin., 3.63—.07

FNB Corp., .48,8.26—.48

General Electric, .40,15.73—.52

Motors Liquidation, .35—.05

Huntington Bank, .04, 5.75—.37

JP Morgan Chase, .20,37.75—1.42

Key Corp, .04,7.92—.57

LaFarge, 12.40 —1.00

Macy’s, .20, 20.541.16

Parker Hannifin, 1.04, 62.37—2.67

PNC, .40,56.75—1.96

RTI Intl. Metals,27.26—1.98

Rural/Metro, 7.66 —.79

Simon Prop. Grp.,$2.40,90.61—1.96

Stoneridge 9.69 —.98

United Community Fin. 1.41—.04

Selected prices at 4 p.m. Wednesday. Provided by Stifel Nicolaus. Not to be construed as an offer or recommendation to buy or sell any security.