BUSINESS DIGEST || Shale exploration, seismic testing

Shale exploration, seismic testing

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa.

A Web-based seminar sponsored by Penn State Extension will examine seismic testing associated with shale-gas development in Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Titled “Seismic Testing: What’s It All About?”, the 75-minute webinar will take place at 1 p.m. Thursday. Presenters will be Kenneth Hall, of Kenneth Hall Consulting Services of Snow Shoe, and Dennis Langlois, of Houston, Appalachian region sales and marketing manager for CGG Veritas.

Hall will discuss the potential problems that may be encountered with seismic testing and conditions property owners should require.

Information about how to register for the session is available on the webinar page of Penn State Extension’s natural-gas website at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/webinars.

Regional chamber Cuba trip meeting

BOARDMAN

The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber will host an informational meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. Jan. 26 about a trip to Cuba in late June.

The meeting will take place at Holiday Inn, 7410 South Ave.

The nine-day, eight-night trip begins June 28.

The chamber along with Chamber Explorations have been issued a specific license by the Department of the Treasury, Office of Foreign Assets Control, which authorizes registered guests of the program to visit Cuba legally.

Meeting preregistration is required. Call 330-744-2131 ext. 12 or email Jennifer Mascardine at jennifer@regionalchamber.com for more information.

PNC move will happen in March

YOUNGSTOWN

PNC Bank’s move to City Centre One at 100 E. Federal St., downtown, will happen by March, the company said.

PNC had announced the move last October.

The bank will place new signage on the building, and it is expected to meet PNC’s environmentally friendly building standards.

“Youngstown is an important market for PNC, and this move to a new downtown regional headquarters will enable us to continue to serve clients in a premiere office environment,” said Theodore M. Schmidt, regional president for PNC Bank in Youngstown, said in October.

PNC’s current location, at Wick Avenue and Commerce Street, became notorious for its scaffolding that was up for years.

Local economy is back on track

YOUNGSTOWN

The Mahoning Valley economy had the second-lowest level of new unemployment claims during the first week of January, economist George Zeller said.

Canton had the lowest level and was the only one of seven statewide regions to post job growth.

Zeller attributed the Valley’s improvement to the General Motors Lordstown plant, which returned to work after its holiday break.

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .66, 21.26 —.10

Avalon Holdings,2.95.07

Clear Channel, .78 61.78 —1.19

Cortland Bancorp, 6.75.15

Farmers Nat.5.05 .00

First Energy, 2.20, 42.17—.03

FirstMerit Corp., .64,15.97 —.33

First Niles Financial, .32,7.25.25

First Place Fin., .58.00

FNB Corp., .48,12.30—.02

General Motors,24.29—.38

General Electric, .68,18.84—.09

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 5.97.00

JP Morgan Chase, 1.00,35.92—.93

Key Corp, .12,8.31.09

LaFarge, 9.17 —.15

Macy’s, .40, 34.42—.62

Parker Hannifin, 1.48, 82.44—.64

PNC, 1.40,61.73—.36

RTI Intl. Metals,25.62—.22

Simon Prop. Grp.,3.60,126.92—.09

Stoneridge 9.44 .08

United Community Fin. 1.21—.05

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.