Poll: New grads can expect rise in hiring

Poll: New grads can expect rise in hiring

Modest good news for college students: An annual survey predicts employers will increase hiring of new 4-year college graduates about 5 percent in the coming year. Demand for graduates with associate’s degrees is expected to increase more sharply — by about 30 percent compared with last year’s survey— while MBA hiring appears headed for an unexpected decline.

The 42nd annual survey out, today from Michigan State University’s College Employment Research Institute, collects responses on hiring plans from more than 2,000 U.S. employers.

Fed minutes suggest bond buying is likely

washington

The Federal Reserve may be preparing to take further steps to stimulate an economy that remains too weak to reduce high unemployment.

Minutes of the Fed’s Oct. 23-24 policy meeting released Wednesday suggest that it might unveil a bond buying program in December to replace a program that expires at year’s end.

The bond purchases would be intended to lower long-term borrowing rates to encourage spending and strengthen the economy. The hope is that more hiring would follow.

Toyota issues recall

tokyo

Toyota Motor Corp. is recalling 2.77 million vehicles around the world for a water-pump problem and a steering-shaft defect that may result in faulty steering — the latest in a spate of quality woes for Japan’s top automaker.

No accidents have been reported related to these two problems announced Wednesday, Toyota said.

Affected models include the Prius hybrid, Corolla, Wish and others produced from 2000-11 in Japan, and from 2000-09 overseas.

Associated Press

Selected local stocks

STOCK, DIVIDENDCLOSECHANGE

Aqua America, .66, 24.54 —.32

Avalon Holdings,3.89—.06

Clear Channel, .73 70.60 .30

Cortland Bancorp, 10.03.00

Farmers Nat., .125.84 —.07

First Energy, 2.20, 41.30—.80

FirstMerit Corp., .64,13.07 —.23

First Niles Financial, .32,6.60.00

First Place Fin., .021.00

FNB Corp., .48,10.59.07

General Motors,24.17—.65

General Electric, .68,20.01—.67

Motors Liquidation, .0422.00

Huntington Bank, .16, 5.93—.16

JP Morgan Chase, 1.20,39.28—.76

Key Corp, .20,8.05—.12

LaFarge, 14.35 —.05

Macy’s, .80, 38.91—.17

Parker Hannifin, 1.64, 77.49—.74

PNC, 1.60,53.69—1.27

RTI Intl. Metals,23.11—.51

Simon Prop. Grp.,4.40,148.10—2.61

Stoneridge 4.76 —.09

United Community Fin. 3.36—.10

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.