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Progress declares a higher dividend

By TIMES WIRES
Published December 14, 2006

Progress Energy, parent of Progress Energy Florida, said it will increase its quarterly common stock dividend for the 19th straight year to 61 cents per share from 60.5 cents per share. The dividend is payable on Feb. 1 and represents an expected total annual dividend for 2007 of $2.44 per share, an increase of 2 cents over the 2006 dividend.

Home Depot will buy chain in China

The Home Depot Inc., the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced Wednesday it has signed an agreement to acquire Chinese home improvement retailer The Home Way. Terms of the deal were not disclosed but earlier reports put the value at $100-million.

Late mortgage payments spike

Late mortgage payments shot up in the third quarter as higher interest rates squeezed homeowners' budgets. The Mortgage Bankers Association quarterly report Wednesday, said the percentage of mortgage payments that were 30 or more days past due jumped to 4.67 percent in the July-to-September quarter, from 4.39 percent in the second quarter.

Florida reaches AOL refund deal

Florida's attorney general has reached an agreement with America Online to resolve over 1,000 consumer complaints through payment of restitution in some cases and forgiveness of debts in others. The complaints involve such things as cancellation requests that were not honored, mistakes in billing, reactivation of AOL accounts without authorization and charges imposed for "spin-off" accounts, Attorney General and Governor -elect Charlie Crist said in a statement Tuesday. Claims forms are available at www.myfloridalegal.com.

OPEC hints it may hold off on cuts

OPEC may keep production steady, the organization's president suggested Wednesday, despite renewed calls by some oil ministers on the eve of their year-end meeting for new cuts to shore up prices. Until recently, OPEC president Edmund Daukoru, who is also Nigeria's oil minister, had been a firm backer of cuts but hedged Wednesday. Saudi Arabia also indicated less sentiment to cut than just a few days ago.

Boeing loses more personal data

A Boeing Co. laptop containing the names, Social Security numbers and other personal data on 382,000 workers and retirees has been stolen. The theft confirmed Tuesday was the third such incident at Boeing. Spokesman Tim Neale would not reveal where the theft happened.

[Last modified December 13, 2006, 23:15:48]