BUSINESS DIGEST | Workers demand better jobs, pay

Workers demand better jobs, pay

NEW YORK

Thousands of workers and immigrant laborers took to the streets Sunday to celebrate May Day, demanding rights for those “who toil in the sun” while others pocket the profits.

The message in Manhattan — delivered with bullhorns and drums — was echoed by millions of workers around the world, from Havana to Berlin and Istanbul.

The burning issues were the same: more jobs, better working conditions, higher wages and decent health care.

May 1 is a traditional date for pro-labor demonstrations. Immigration advocates in the U.S. latched onto the celebrations in 2006.

Sales growth is big surprise on Wall St.

NEW YORK

Companies have found a new way to surprise analysts: They’re selling more stuff.

Three out of four companies in the S&P index that have reported earnings this quarter have beat sales predictions by Wall Street analysts. And some companies aren’t just merely squeaking in ahead of expectations. Fifteen percent of companies that beat estimates did so by at least 10 percent, according to Standard & Poor’s.

More companies are beating sales predictions than at any other point since the recession ended in June 2009. This surprise comes on top of eight straight quarters of beating analysts’ profit forecasts.

Positive-sales surprises indicate that consumers and businesses are absorbing things such as higher food and gas prices — and still spending on nonnecessities.

Associated Press

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .62, 22.55 .11

Avalon Holdings,2.900.00

Clear Channel, .63 60.00 1.00

Cortland Bancorp, 7.200.00

Farmers Nat., .12, 4.80.05

First Energy, 2.20, 39.96.15

FirstMerit Corp., .64,17.47 —.08

First Niles Financial, .32,13.27—.16

First Place Fin., 7.500.00

FNB Corp., .48,10.95—.05

General Motors,32.09.18

General Electric, .56,20.45—.15

Motors Liquidation, .04220.00

Huntington Bank, .04, 6.79—.06

JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,45.63—.22

Key Corp, .04,8.67—.01

LaFarge, 17.68 —.18

Macy’s, .20, 23.91—.30

Parker Hannifin, 1.28, 94.32.21

PNC, .40,62.34—.17

RTI Intl. Metals,31.94.44

Rural/Metro, 17.03—.01

Simon Prop. Grp.,3.20,114.54—.41

Stoneridge 15.30 .41

United Community Fin. 1.41.02

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