Thursday, August 18, 2011
Solar energy
COLUMBIANA
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat from Avon, announced Wednesday that two Mahoning Valley businesses were awarded federal resources to develop solar energy.
Family Walgreen Drug Inc. in Columbiana was awarded $20,000, and Village Pharmacy in New Middletown was awarded $18,106.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program helps to increase the production and use of renewable-energy sources in the United States to reduce America’s dependence on foreign energy.
About 900 agricultural producers and rural small businesses across the country have been awarded federal resources.
Money scam
YOUNGSTOWN
A new money scam soon may infiltrate Mahoning Valley mailboxes.
The Vindicator received a tip about a check scam where residents receive a check from what appears to be International Finance Corp., which is affiliated with the World Bank.
The word International is misspelled, one sign the check is fraudulent.
As a follow-up, a resident may receive a phone call asking if he or she deposited the check and will be asked to send the money back because of a banking mistake.
If the resident sends it back, he or she will lose money.
A World Bank’s Integrity Vice Presidency representative said the organization does not deal with unsolicited checks. The Better Business Bureau recommends never depositing an unsolicited check or sending money to an unsolicited organization.
F.N.B. dividend
Hermitage, Pa.
F.N.B. Corp. announced a quarterly cash dividend Wednesday of 12 cents per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable on Sept. 15 to shareholders of record on Sept. 1.
F.N.B. in July reported a net income of $22.4 million for the second quarter, higher than the $17.9 million it achieved during the same quarter of 2010.
Oil prices rise
NEW YORK
Oil rose Wednesday as traders focused on an unexpectedly large drop in gasoline supplies and a weaker dollar.
Benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude for September delivery rose 93 cents to finish at $87.58 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent crude, which is used to price many international oil varieties, increased by $1.47 to end the day at $110.60 per barrel on the ICE Futures exchange in London.
Oil rose early in the day on reports that the nation’s gasoline supply dropped more than expected last week. The Energy Information Administration said gasoline supplies fell by 3.5 million barrels last week to 210.1 million barrels. Analysts expected a drop of 2.3 million barrels, according to Platts, the energy-information arm of McGraw Hill Cos.
From staff/wire reports
Selected local stocks
STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE
Aqua America, .62, 21.94 .05
Avalon Holdings,2.73.06
Clear Channel, .63 53.36 .79
Cortland Bancorp, 7.18.08
Farmers Nat., .12, 4.35 .05
First Energy, 2.20, 43.06.50
FirstMerit Corp., .64,12.49 .02
First Niles Financial, .32,7.25.00
First Place Fin., .725.03
FNB Corp., .48,9.02.05
General Motors,24.94—.89
General Electric, .60,16.23.08
Motors Liquidation, .0422.00
Huntington Bank, .04, 5.10.0536.57
JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,36.57.54
Key Corp, .12,6.69.01
LaFarge, 10.37 —.06
Macy’s, .40, 24.58—.61
Parker Hannifin, 1.48, 69.10—.87
PNC, 1.40,47.31.27
RTI Intl. Metals,24.30.05
Simon Prop. Grp.,3.20,117.58.33
Stoneridge 8.25 —.09
United Community Fin. .98—.09
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.