Business*
New-vehicle titling soars 7% in state
posted: 01/25/2014 3:24 a.m. Discuss
More than 100,000 new vehicles were registered in Arkansas last year, the highest total since title information became available in 2008, said Cross-Sell of Lexington, Ky., an automotive research firm.
Workers trimmed by 2,500 at Sam’s
posted: 01/25/2014 3:21 a.m. Discuss
The Sam’s Club warehouse segment of Bentonville-based Wal-Mart Stores Inc. laid off about 2,500 employees Friday, an average of about four people from each of its 630 stores, in an effort to “re-balance resources across the fleet,” a spokesman said.
Lag feared, global markets skid
posted: 01/25/2014 3:21 a.m. Discuss
Investors worried about slower economic growth in China, a gloomier outlook for U.S. corporate profits and an end to easy money policies in the United States and Europe drove stock prices down Friday.
German official says Europe out of crisis
posted: 01/25/2014 3:19 a.m. Discuss
Europe has recovered from years of economic crisis in the eurozone thanks to German-led changes, Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble said Friday.
Nissan ad deceptive, FTC says
posted: 01/25/2014 3:18 a.m. Discuss
The Federal Trade Commission on Thursday said Nissan Motor Co.’s North American unit and its advertising agency used specialeffects trickery to exaggerate the performance of the Frontier pickup.
Prepaid debit card popularity piques banks’ interest
posted: 01/25/2014 3:17 a.m. Discuss
Companies such as T-Mobile are entering into the prepaid debit card market as the industry has grown rapidly in the past year, enticing more banks to back them.
NEWS IN BRIEF
posted: 01/25/2014 3:15 a.m. Discuss
Windstream awarded $1.6 million U.S. job Windstream Holdings Inc. has been awarded a $1.6 million contract with the U.S. Defense Department, the Little Rock telecommunications company said Friday.
Business news in brief
posted: 01/25/2014 3:14 a.m. Discuss
QUOTE OF THE DAY “Special effects in ads can be entertaining, but advertisers can’t use them to misrepresent what a product can do.” Jessica Rich, Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection director
Hirsute styles shave razor sales
posted: 01/25/2014 3:13 a.m. Discuss
The Procter & Gamble Co. said Friday that a growing preference for shaggy styles is trimming razor sales.
Boeing exec: Must boost 787’s reliability
posted: 01/25/2014 3:10 a.m. Discuss
Boeing Co. needs to improve the reliability of its 787 Dreamliner to satisfy customers such as Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA after a series of malfunctions with the new aircraft, an executive for the manufacturer said.
Drug distributor to acquire German firm
posted: 01/25/2014 3:09 a.m. Discuss
McKesson Corp., the largest U.S. drug distributor, agreed to acquire Celesio AG just 10 days after a failed tender offer for the European company.
Wal-Mart fund a make-it-in-U.S. lure
posted: 01/24/2014 3:53 a.m. Comment 1
Bill Simon, president and chief executive of Wal-Mart U.S., announced Thursday the creation of a $10 million fund to spur innovation for manufacturers who wish to add or bring operations stateside from overseas. The retail behemoth is targeting manufacturers who work with its suppliers.
Trucker Hunt’s earnings up 9.5%
posted: 01/24/2014 3:51 a.m. Discuss
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. reported fourthquarter earnings of $92 million, or 77 cents per diluted share, and ended 2013 with total annual revenue of $5.6 billion.
Jobless claims flat amid hiring lull
posted: 01/24/2014 3:48 a.m. Discuss
WASHINGTON — Applications for unemployment benefits held near a six-week low, showing firings remain muted after Christmas.
Merger costs shave Simmons’ earnings
posted: 01/24/2014 3:46 a.m. Discuss
Simmons First National Corp. earned $3.8 million in the fourth quarter, or 23 cents a share, less than half its net income in the same period of 2012, the Pine Bluff bank said Thursday.