Niblock Named Lowe's Chairman, President & CEO
Mooresvillle, NC, January 31--Lowe's announced that company president Robert A. Niblock has assumed the additional roles of chairman and chief executive officer.
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Beazer Homes 4Q Earnings Up 48%
Atlanta, GA, January 27—Home builder Beazer Homes USA reported fourth quarter earnings that rose 48 percent, as strong overall housing demand and higher prices offset declines in Arizona and Nevada.
OMNOVA Reports 4Q Loss
Fairlawn, OH, January 27--OMNOVA Solutions reported a loss of $14.7 million, or $0.36 per diluted share, for the fourth quarter of 2004, compared to a loss of $61.3 million, or $1.53 per diluted share, during the fourth quarter of 2003.
Durable Goods Orders up 0.6% in December
Washington, DC, January 27—-Durable goods orders increased 0.6 percent in December, despite large declines in civilian aircraft and defense goods, the Commerce Department said Thursday.
Lear 1Q Earnings Off 7%
Southfield, MI, January 28--Lear Corp., the maker of automotive carpet and interiors, said earnings in the latest quarter fell 7 percent from a year earlier, hurt mainly by higher raw-material prices.
Help Wanted Index Up 2 Points
New York, January 28--The Conference Board’s Help-Wanted Advertising Index – a key barometer of America's job market – increased two points in December.
Dow Chemical 4Q Earnings Up 10%
Midland, MI, January 27--Dow Chemical posted a 10 percent increase in fourth-quarter net profit on Thursday, beating expectations, as it benefited from higher prices.
Sears 4Q Earnings Off 86%
Hoffman Estates, IL, January 28—Sears reported an 86 percent drop in fourth-quarter net earnings Thursday after shedding its profitable credit-card unit a year earlier, its results now solely dependent on sagging retail sales.
Stark Carpet Opens in Charlotte
Charlotte, NC, January 27--Stark Carpet Corp., will open its new 30,000-square-foot Charlotte facility in February.
Shopping-Mall Vacancy Rates Decline to 5.3%
New York, NY, January 27--The nation's retailers added space in the fourth quarter, pushing down vacancy rates in malls and strip malls while driving rents almost 1% higher, according to a new survey.