WASHINGTON (AP) – Is the era of ultra-low interest rates nearing an end? That's the question – and the fear – Chairman Ben Bernanke will face this week when he takes questions after a Federal Reserve policy meeting.

2. US Service Firms Grow More Slowly, Hiring Weakens - Thursday, April 04, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – Two reports Wednesday showed that U.S. service companies grew more slowly in March and private employers pulled back on hiring. The declines suggest businesses may have grown more cautious last month after federal spending cuts took effect.

3. Survey: US Manufacturing Grew More Slowly in March - Tuesday, April 02, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – A survey shows U.S. manufacturing activity expanded more slowly in March than February, held back by weaker growth in production and new orders. But factories hired at the fastest pace in nine months, an encouraging sign ahead of Friday's report on March employment.

4. Argent Financial Sees Growth in Memphis, Beyond - Saturday, March 02, 2013

Argent Financial Group hasn’t let its foot off the gas since arriving in Memphis.

The Louisiana-based wealth management firm, which is now responsible for more than $5.5 billion in client assets, has continued to expand both in Memphis and beyond.

5. US Factory Output Falls on Weak Auto Production - Monday, February 18, 2013

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. factories slowed production in January after two solid months of cranking out goods. The weakness mainly reflected a big drop in output at auto factories that is likely temporary.

6. Lawrence’s Background a Fit for Work at EDGE - Monday, February 11, 2013

It might be said that John Lawrence has a background made to order for looking at the big picture – one of real estate, urban planning, marketing and organization management. Through the course of various career moves, he’s developed the tools necessary for the use in his position as manager of strategic economic development planning for Memphis and Shelby County’s Economic Development Growth Engine (EDGE).

7. Lighting the Spark - Saturday, February 09, 2013

Somewhere, there’s an entrepreneur scribbling an idea on little more than the back of a napkin. Someone else has all the pieces of a new company in place, and now they’re ready to dial for dollars. Entrepreneurs are a talented bunch, but that talent doesn’t always include a knack for management or finance – skill sets that plenty of experts in Memphis stand ready to help explain.

8. Argent Financial, Highland Capital Merging - Wednesday, January 09, 2013

Memphis-based Highland Capital Management LLC and Louisiana-based Argent Financial Group, which entered the Memphis market a few years ago, are merging.

9. Changing Market - Wednesday, January 02, 2013

Much of 2012’s commercial real estate deals could be summed up in one of three phrases: speculative construction, institutional buyers and unusual transactions.

The first quarter was kicked off when Industrial Developments International Inc. revealed plans to add one build-to-suit and two speculative buildings in its Crossroads Distribution Center in Olive Branch – marking the area’s first spec construction since 2008.

10. Makowsky Ringel Greenberg Beefs Up Commercial Team - Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Makowsky Ringel Greenberg LLC is sharpening the focus of its commercial real estate division to stabilize its existing portfolio as well as build its third-party brokerage in the Memphis market.

11. Commercial Advisors Capital Markets to Zero In on ‘Untapped Segment’ - Friday, October 12, 2012

Cushman & Wakefield/Commercial Advisors Asset Services LLC has launched a Capital Markets Group, a new service line to complement the firm’s tenant representation and third-party leasing and management businesses.

12. US Service Firms Grow at Fastest Pace in 6 Months - Thursday, October 04, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. service companies grew in September at the fastest pace in six months, helped by a sharp increase in customer demand.

The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, said Wednesday that its index of non-manufacturing activity rose to 55.1, up from 53.7 in August. Any reading above 50 indicates expansion.

13. Growth Streak - Monday, September 10, 2012

Andrew Holliday and Daniel Brown, the founding partners of Memphis-based branding and marketing firm Harvest Creative, used to joke about one day making the Inc. 500|5000, the list published each year by Inc. Magazine that honors the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S.

14. US Service Firms Grew at Faster Pace in August - Friday, September 07, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. service companies expanded at a faster pace in August than July, helped by stronger hiring. The growth at firms that employ roughly 90 percent of the work force suggests the economy is slowly improving.

15. Survey: US Manufacturing Shrinks for Third Month - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. factory activity shrank for the third straight month in August as new orders, production and employment all fell. The report adds to other signs that manufacturing is struggling around the globe.

16. Robinson’s Memphis Roots At Center of Career - Thursday, August 23, 2012

It could be said a passion for the Bluff City runs deep in fourth-generation Memphian Daniel T. Robinson Jr., who practices corporate law as an attorney with Evans Petree PC, a 105-year-old Memphis law firm.

17. US Service Firms Grew Slightly Faster in July - Monday, August 06, 2012

U.S. service companies, which employ 90 percent of Americans, grew at a slightly faster pace in July.

The Institute for Supply Management reported Friday that its index of non-manufacturing activity picked up slightly last month with a reading of 52.6. That was up from June’s reading of 52.1, which had been the lowest since January 2010.

18. US Jobless Aid Applications Fall to 6-Week Low - Friday, July 06, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, and a private survey showed hiring picked up in June. The reports offered some hope for the job market after three sluggish months of hiring.

19. US Manufacturing Shrinks for First Time in 3 Years - Tuesday, July 03, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. manufacturing shrank in June for the first time in nearly three years, adding to signs that economic growth is weakening.

Production declined, and the number of new orders plunged, according to a monthly report released Monday by the Institute for Supply Management.

20. Dodd-Frank Could Have ‘Dire Impact’ On Economy - Monday, June 11, 2012

As banks nationwide are feeling the pressure of regulatory change like the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, commercial real estate lending standards by community banks will likely remain stringent for the foreseeable future.

21. US Manufacturing Grows at Fastest Pace Since June - Wednesday, May 02, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. manufacturing grew last month at the fastest pace in 10 months. New orders, production and a measure of hiring all rose.

The strength at U.S. factories suggests the economy is healthier than recent data had indicated. That's a hopeful sign ahead of Friday's report on hiring in April.

22. Many Questions Raised Before Going Public - Monday, April 16, 2012

As Facebook prepares for its multibillion-dollar initial public offering (IPO) next month, it sheds light on how companies – including local ones – decide whether to go public or not.

Memphis-based pharmaceutical company GTx Inc. went public in 2004 and local paper producer Verso Paper Corp. held its IPO in 2008, but the overall number of publicly traded companies both locally and nationally has dropped over the past two decades.

23. US Service Firms Grow At Steady Pace, Boost Hiring - Thursday, April 05, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. service companies expanded at a healthy pace last month and stepped up hiring, more evidence that the economy is growing and adding jobs.

The Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday that its index of non-manufacturing activity dropped to 56 in March. That’s down from February’s 57.3, which was a 12-month high. Any reading above 50 indicates expansion.

24. US Factory Orders Up 1.3 Pct. - Wednesday, April 04, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses ordered more machinery and equipment from U.S. factories in February, a signal that many are investing in their companies despite the expiration of a tax credit.

25. Argent Opens Trust Office in Nashville - Wednesday, April 04, 2012

It’s been a few years now since Louisiana-based Argent Financial Group, a diversified financial services company responsible for more than $3 billion in client assets, arrived in Memphis.

Since then, Argent has solidified its ties to the city. Now, it’s grown beyond Memphis deeper into the state.

26. Panel: State Has ‘Robust’ Bioscience Community - Monday, February 27, 2012

Members of the region’s scientific, medical, academic and business communities seeking more knowledge about innovative early-stage investment strategies in the biosciences packed the ballroom of The University Club, 1346 Central Avenue, on Thursday, Feb. 23, for a panel discussion hosted by Memphis Bioworks Business Association.

27. Privatization Thoughts Highlight Changes - Monday, February 27, 2012

Here’s a roundup of what some of the city’s banks and bankers, investment professionals, mortgage brokers, asset management firms and other financial services shops have been up to in recent weeks.

28. US Service Industry Growth Surges in January - Monday, February 06, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. service companies grew at the fastest pace in 11 months in January as companies started hiring to keep up with rising demand.

The Institute for Supply Management said Friday that its index of non-manufacturing activity jumped to 56.8 percent in January from 53 percent in December. The survey's employment index soared to its highest level since February 2006. Any reading above 50 indicates expansion.

29. Grinding it Out - Monday, February 06, 2012

After most recessions, real estate bounces back.

But the Great Recession has been notably different – long, deep and very prolonged.

That’s the message Dr. John Gnuschke, director of the Sparks Bureau of Business and Economic Research and co-director of the Center for Real Estate at the University of Memphis, delivered in December at the Urban Land Institute’s Real Estate Outlook for the Mid-South.

30. CRE Activity Stays Strong During 2011 - Friday, December 30, 2011

Despite hard times, local commercial real estate firms were able to ink plenty of deals in the past 12 months.

Memphis’ industrial leasing activity kicked off in January when Buena Park, Calif.-based Pacific Logistics Corp. signed a 60,000-square-foot lease in ProLogis Park DeSoto for its first Memphis-area location.

31. Economists: Obama's Policies 'Fair' or 'Poor' - Thursday, December 29, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama gets mediocre marks for his handling of the U.S. economy, and Mitt Romney easily outpolls his Republican rivals in an Associated Press survey of economists.

32. Durable Goods Orders Up, But Core Demand is Weak - Monday, December 26, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Companies' demand for long-lasting manufactured goods rose by the largest amount in four months in November, driven by a jump in orders for planes.

The Commerce Department says orders to U.S. factories for durable goods rose 3.8 percent in November. It was the biggest gain since July. But so-called core capital goods, a proxy for business investment spending, dropped for a second straight month. They fell 1.2 percent.

33. Prolonged Recession - Monday, December 26, 2011

In the words of Phil Woodard, an owner of multiple residential and commercial properties in Downtown Memphis, breaking even is the new profit.

Or as national real estate expert Jonathan Miller said earlier this month at the Urban Land Institute’s Real Estate Outlook for the Mid-South, “We cannot expect to make money the way we did a few years ago.”

34. Key Storylines Emerge in 2011 Banking - Monday, December 26, 2011

Much of the news that came out of the local banking and financial services sectors in 2011 fell into one of three buckets.

No new fees, please.

Smaller names are doing bigger business.

And, two heads are better than one.

35. US Factory Output Declined Sharply in November - Friday, December 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. manufacturing output fell in November for the first time in seven months.

The decline was largely because factories made fewer autos. But production of home electronics, appliances and business equipment also dropped.

36. Pulling the Strings - Monday, December 12, 2011

Long before the first widgets roll off the assembly line, way back before the ribbon cutting and the first shovels break ground, and even before executives quietly slip in to scout out a prospective piece of land, someone like Mark Sweeney gets a phone call.

37. US Service Firms Expanded in Nov. at Slower Pace - Tuesday, December 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Service companies, which employ 90 percent of the U.S. work force, expanded at a slower pace in November and a measure of employment at those firms fell.

Separately, the government said orders to U.S. factories dropped for the second straight month.

38. Forecasters Expect Recovery 'With a Lag' - Monday, December 05, 2011

Over the past several days, eerily similar messages have come from a pair of economic forecasters who spoke at the Thursday, Dec. 1, meeting of the Economic Club of Memphis, the most recent forecast from a local investment firm and the latest economic snapshot from the Federal Reserve.

39. US October Durable Goods Orders Fell 0.7 Percent - Thursday, November 24, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. business orders for long-lasting manufactured goods fell for a second straight month in October. While much of the weakness came from a big drop in demand for commercial aircraft, a key category that tracks business investment spending fell by the largest amount since January.

40. House-Senate Negotiators Unveil Spending Bill - Wednesday, November 16, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – House and Senate negotiators have agreed on a bundle of spending measures for the ongoing budget year, blending cuts to NASA and community development programs while averting cuts to nutrition programs.

41. Factory Activity Slows as Economy Stays Sluggish - Wednesday, November 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. manufacturing grew more slowly in October, hampered by weaker demand for exports and slower production at factories.

But companies ordered more goods, factories slashed their stockpiles and auto sales rose. Those trends suggest manufacturing activity could rebound in coming months.

42. Shared Success - Monday, October 24, 2011

Talent acquisition and retention and an ongoing focus on sustainable workforce development are vital to the economic success of any city. And in Memphis – a city beleaguered by high rates of poverty and unemployment – long-term strategies aimed at building that workforce are now targeting future workers as young as middle school students.

43. Businesses Ordered More Long-Lasting Goods - Wednesday, October 05, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses ordered more computers, communications equipment and other big-ticket items in August, a hopeful sign for the slumping economy.

Orders for capital goods, which are considered a good measure of business investment plans, rose 0.9 percent in August, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. It was the second gain in three months.

44. Economy Up Slightly but Threats Remain, Data Show - Tuesday, October 04, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The nation's economy is managing to grow modestly, reports Monday showed, despite high U.S. unemployment and growing alarm about Europe's debt crisis.

Manufacturing expanded in September more than in August, though the pace of growth remains weak, according to a survey by the Institute for Supply Management. The ISM said its manufacturing index rose for the first time in three months.

45. Employers Add No Net Jobs in Aug.; Rate Unchanged - Tuesday, September 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Employers stopped adding jobs in August, an alarming setback for an economy that has struggled to grow and might be at risk of another recession.

The government also reported that the unemployment rate remained at 9.1 percent. It was the weakest jobs report since September 2010.

46. Health Care Stocks Endure Turmoil Better Than Most - Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Health care stocks historically provide a relatively safe haven in roiling markets. They're less tethered to the economy's every movement than other stocks and tend to be less volatile.

Anxious investors might be considering putting money in the sector, but the current outlook is complicated by uncertainty over the government's changing involvement in health care. The wild card is potential cuts to Medicare or Medicaid, soon to be considered by Congress' new debt-reduction supercommittee.

47. Dallas Co. Pays $35M for Depot - Tuesday, August 09, 2011

The Memphis Depot Business Park has sold for $35.8 million after being on the market for less than six months.

Memphis Depot Associates LLC, an affiliated entity of Dallas-based Mayfield Properties LP, on Friday, Aug. 5, bought 260 acres of property containing 4.2 million square feet in buildings in the industrial park and former Army base just north of Memphis International Airport from Depot Redevelopment Corp. of Memphis and Shelby County.

48. Dallas Co. Pays $35M for Depot - Monday, August 08, 2011

The Memphis Depot Business Park has sold for $35.8 million after being on the market for less than six months.

Memphis Depot Associates LLC, an affiliated entity of Dallas-based Mayfield Properties LP, on Friday, Aug. 5, bought 260 acres of property containing 4.2 million square feet in buildings in the industrial park and former Army base just north of Memphis International Airport from Depot Redevelopment Corp. of Memphis and Shelby County.

49. Manufacturing Growth Hits Lowest Level in 2 Years - Tuesday, August 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Manufacturers had their weakest growth in two years in July, a sign that the economy could weaken this summer.

The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing executives, said Monday that its index of manufacturing activity fell to 50.9 percent in July from 55.3 percent in June. The reading was the lowest since July 2009 – one month after the recession officially ended.

50. Complex Forces at Work in Debt Debate - Friday, July 29, 2011

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam has begun talking about a trip to New York in September to meet with representatives of the three major credit rating agencies.

It would be a critical round of presentations by the governor and several top aides, since one of those rating agencies recently announced it might be forced to cut its rating on Tennessee’s credit if the federal government loses its own gold-plated credit rating in the coming days.

51. Survey: Most Pharmaceutical Execs Foresee More M&A - Thursday, July 14, 2011

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) – A survey of top executives of U.S. drugmakers indicates mergers and acquisitions should pick up in the next couple of years, as companies aim to offset rising generic competition.

52. Q2 Mortgage Counts Fall 24 Pct. - Tuesday, July 12, 2011

A slide in mortgage activity between April and June, coinciding with a plunge in home sales, adds up to a housing market in Shelby County that’s still shell-shocked.

And whether or not anyone wants to believe the picture will improve anytime soon, significant headwinds still abound. Fixed mortgage rates are on the rise, and joblessness is still a drag on not only housing but the economy at large.

53. Service Sector Grew in June at Slower Pace - Thursday, July 07, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. service sector, which employs nearly 90 percent of America’s work force, expanded for a 19th consecutive month in June. But growth slowed from May, a sign that the economy remains sluggish.

54. End of the Road - Monday, July 04, 2011

Not long after the Federal Reserve announced a controversial program in November 2010 to buy $600 billion in U.S. government securities, Tennessee’s junior senator found himself besieged by incredulous voters at a town hall meeting in Memphis.

55. Brighter Days Ahead for Argent Financial, Sector Capital Combo - Monday, July 04, 2011

The recent acquisition of Sector Capital Management, a local boutique money management firm, by the much larger Louisiana-based Argent Financial Group came together fast, a testament to how well both firms complement each other and wanted to join forces.

56. End of the Road - Friday, July 01, 2011

ot long after the Federal Reserve announced a controversial program in November 2010 to buy $600 billion in U.S. government securities, Tennessee’s junior senator found himself besieged by incredulous voters at a town hall meeting in Memphis.

57. Bank of America in $8.5B Mortgage Settlement - Thursday, June 30, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Bank of America and its Countrywide unit will pay $8.5 billion to settle claims that the lenders sold poor-quality mortgage-backed securities that went sour when the housing market collapsed.

58. Tom Pease Interviews Tom Pease - Monday, June 27, 2011

How about a dialogue of a strange sort, as I interview myself on small business. The main thing is value points for you, so give me a break. You are a business person, do you want Oprah or Trump? I come bearing business truth serum for good and bad.

59. IronHorse Capital Finds Niche Within Complex Economy - Monday, June 13, 2011

David Waddell, Kerr Tigrett and Chad Cunningham recognized opportunity amid the Great Recession two years ago.

60. Growth Trajectory - Monday, June 13, 2011

Late last year, the president of Duncan-Williams Inc. started something called the “great things list,” a new tradition at the firm founded by his father and which has grown into one of the premier broker-dealer firms in the Southeast U.S.

61. Trade Group Says US Service Sector Grew in May - Monday, June 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. economy's service sector, which employs 90 percent of America's work force, grew in May for an 18th straight month, posting slightly faster growth than in April.

62. Cable Service Provider Signs New Lease - Friday, June 03, 2011

A Madison, Tenn.-based cable service provider is taking advantage of lower rates in a competitive leasing environment.

FTS USA has signed a 4,002-square-foot lease in East Pointe Business Center, 3915 S. Mendenhall Road.

63. US Service Sector Expanded at Much Slower Pace - Thursday, May 05, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S economy's service sector grew last month at the slowest pace since August, renewing concerns that more expensive gas and food may be weakening growth.

Service companies, which employ 90 percent of the nation's work force, still expanded for the 17th straight month. But their growth slowed considerably because of a sharp drop in demand for their services, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday.

64. US Service Sector Expanded at Much Slower Pace - Thursday, May 05, 2011

The U.S economy’s service sector grew last month at the slowest pace since August, renewing concerns that more expensive gas and food may be weakening growth.

Companies that employ 90 percent of the nation’s work force still expanded for the 17th straight month. But their growth slowed considerable because of a sharp drop in demand for their services, the Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday.

65. Businesses Ordered More Factory Goods in March - Wednesday, May 04, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Businesses increased their demand for industrial machinery, computers and autos in March, lifting factory orders for the fifth consecutive month.

Orders rose 3 percent in March after a 0.7 percent increase in February, the Commerce Department reported Tuesday. A key category that signals business investment plans jumped 4.1 percent after a small increase in February and a big decline in January. Excluding the volatile transportation sector, orders rose 2.6 percent.

66. Argent Financial Strengthens Memphis Ties - Monday, April 04, 2011

It’s been almost a year since Louisiana-based Argent Financial Group, a diversified financial services company with more than $3 billion in client assets, opened a Memphis office.

Since then, the company has incrementally deepened its ties to the city with moves that include signing a five-year lease at The Crescent Center last spring.

67. Argent Financial Acquires Sector Capital Management - Friday, April 01, 2011

Argent Financial Group, one of the region’s oldest full-service independent trust and financial service companies, has acquired Sector Capital Management LLC of Memphis.

68. Dollar Signs - Monday, February 21, 2011

From wealth management to accounting to investment firms, plenty of financial services companies in Memphis are enjoying a robust level of growth that might seem surprising to an outsider.

Yet it’s clear the economic recovery is well under way, and companies with strong fundamentals are reaping rewards.

69. Factory Activity Grows at Fastest Pace in 7 Years - Wednesday, February 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Factory activity expanded in January at the fastest pace in nearly seven years, as America’s manufacturers reported a sharp jump in new orders.

Still, builders spent less on projects in December, pushing annual construction spending down to a decade low.

70. Factory Activity Grows at Fastest Pace in 7 Years - Wednesday, February 02, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – Factory activity expanded in January at the fastest pace in nearly seven years, as America's manufacturers reported a sharp jump in new orders.

Still, builders spent less on projects in December, pushing annual construction spending down to a decade low.

71. Duncan-Williams Inc. Makes Key Exec Hire - Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Duncan-Williams Inc. has added a heavyweight of the local financial services industry to its executive team as the firm seeks to grow its private client group and complete its 500@50 initiative – $500 million in annual revenue by 2019.

72. Service Firms Grow at Fastest Pace Since 2006 - Thursday, January 06, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) — Strong consumer demand pushed a key measure of the economy's service sector to its highest level in more than four years, the latest evidence that the economy is gaining strength and job growth could pick up in the new year.

73. ULI: Recovery to Begin in 2011 - Thursday, December 09, 2010

The real estate market is projected to turn around next year, but the industry will have to settle for baby steps in all markets and property sectors.

That was the message more than 250 bankers, investors and real estate professionals heard Wednesday at the Urban Land Institute’s fourth annual Real Estate Outlook for the Mid-South where they learned about the “era of less.”

74. Service Sector Grew at a Faster Pace in November - Monday, December 06, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – The service sector expanded for the 11th straight month in November and at the fastest pace in six months.

Friday's report from the Institute for Supply Management, a private trade group, follows a string of other indicators this week indicating the economy is steadily improving. But the Labor Department issued a disappointing jobs report Friday that showed the expansion didn't boost hiring in November. The unemployment rate rose to 9.8 percent last month, as job creation slowed.

75. Healthy Industry - Monday, November 22, 2010

Throughout a prolonged recession and anemic recovery, hospitals and health care companies have given Memphis a powerful antidote to an ailing economy.

They have invested more than a billion dollars in new construction and equipment, expanded operations and kept tens of thousands of people working.

76. Service Sector Growth Accelerates in September - Wednesday, October 06, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – The U.S. service sector, the nation's predominant employer, expanded in September for a ninth straight month, although the growth has not been consistent enough to dent the high unemployment rate.

77. Economy Gets Lift From Government Aid - Monday, October 04, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – A flurry of new data Friday showed the economy is improving – with temporary help from the government.

Consumer spending rose 0.4 percent in August and incomes increased 0.5 percent, the largest gain in eight months, the Commerce Department said. Still, the income gain was propelled mostly by the government's short-term extension of unemployment aid, not wage gains.

78. Manufacturing Activity Up for 14th Straight Month - Monday, October 04, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Manufacturing activity expanded in September for the 14th straight month, although at the slowest pace since November.

The Institute for Supply Management said Friday that its manufacturing index read 54.4 in September, down from 56.3 in August. A reading above 50 indicates growth.

79. Business Spending on Capital Goods Rises in August - Monday, September 27, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. companies invested last month in computers, communications equipment and machinery, boosting capital goods orders for the third time in four months.

The 4.1 percent increase to capital goods in August signaled a rebound in business spending after orders fell 5.3 percent in July. It also suggests manufacturing, which has helped drive economic growth since the recession ended in June 2009, is still a bright spot in a weak recovery.

80. Service Sector Grows at Slower Pace in August - Tuesday, September 07, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – The U.S. service sector, the nation's predominant job generator, expanded for the eighth straight month in August although the pace of growth slowed, according to a trade group survey.

81. US Manufacturing Grows for 13th Straight Month - Thursday, September 02, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. manufacturing expanded in August for the 13th straight month, lifting hopes that economic growth won't stall.

The Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday its manufacturing index rose to 56.3 in August from 55.5 in July. A reading above 50 indicates growth.

82. MAAR Commercial Council Welcomes New Board Members - Monday, August 16, 2010

The Memphis Area Association of Realtors Commercial Council held its annual board of directors meeting Thursday, approving three new members for its 2011 board.

Greg deWitt of Grubb & Ellis Co. will take over one of the council’s director seats next year before becoming the council’s vice president in 2012. He will inherit the seat occupied by John Mercer of Highwoods Properties in 2011.

83. Service Sector Grows More Quickly in July - Thursday, August 05, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Growth in the U.S. service sector picked up in July, according to a trade group's survey, in a good sign for the overall economy and the job market.

The Institute for Supply Management said Wednesday its service-sector index rose to 54.3 last month, up from 53.8 in June. Economists had expected a pullback to 53 for July.

84. Villains, Heroes: Observing Fight in Recession Battle - Monday, August 02, 2010

Listening to Sean Dieterle, a portfolio specialist with the prominent PIMCO investment company, give his insight on investing and the economy, it’s hard not to think of the classic villain in a horror flick.

85. ISM Says Service Sector Growth Slows in June - Wednesday, July 07, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – The service sector grew more slowly in June, an industry trade group said Tuesday, offering the latest sign that the economic recovery is weakening as the second half of the year begins.

86. MED Leadership Team Takes Shape - Monday, June 14, 2010

Dr. Reginald Coopwood is close to having his top leadership team in place three months after taking the helm at The Regional Medical Center at Memphis as chief executive officer.

87. First-Time Jobless Claims Drop for Second Week - Friday, June 04, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - New claims for unemployment insurance fell for the second straight week, fresh evidence the job market is slowly improving.

And productivity grew at a slower rate in the first quarter of this year than previously thought, suggesting that businesses are reaching the limits of their ability to boost output with fewer workers. That implies they will need to hire more employees.

88. Job Hopes Rise on Flurry of Economic Reports - Friday, June 04, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) - A handful of economic reports released Thursday raised hopes for an improving job market with fewer layoffs and more hiring.

Productivity slowed more than initially estimated in the first quarter of the year, a sign that employers are struggling to squeeze more work out of leaner staffs. The lower figure was expected after the government last week revised its growth estimate for the first quarter.

89. Consumer Watchdog Eyes Lenders in New Bank Rules - Monday, May 24, 2010

Consumer watchdog eyes lenders in new bank rules

JIM KUHNHENN,Associated Press Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress is getting tougher on both borrowers and lenders blamed for inflating a housing bubble that, when it popped, plunged the nation into a severe recession two years ago.

90. Service Sector Grows in April, Trade Group Says - Thursday, May 06, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – The service sector expanded in April, with business activity accelerating at the strongest pace in four years.

The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing executives, said its service sector index read 55.4 in April, the same level as in March. It’s the fourth straight month of growth.

91. Factory Orders Strengthen, Home Sales Contracts Up - Wednesday, May 05, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — A surprisingly busy month for U.S. factories and a surge in home buying are the latest signs that the economic recovery is picking up.

Orders to U.S. factories rose 1.3 percent in March, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. That was much better than the 0.1 percent decline analysts had expected. Excluding the volatile transportation sector, orders gained 3.1 percent, the biggest increase since August 2005.

92. Louisiana’s Argent Establishes Memphis Office - Monday, May 03, 2010

Louisiana-based Argent Financial Group, a diversified financial services company with $2 billion in client assets, has opened an office in Memphis.

Argent, which operates one of the region’s oldest full-service independent trust companies, recently acquired Memphis-based Investment Counsel and Trust Co. Argent then hired several financial professionals from Regions Morgan Keegan Trust.

93. US Manufacturing Growth Revs Up - Friday, April 02, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – The U.S. manufacturing sector expanded in March at its strongest pace in 5 1/2 years, leading the rebound from the recession on growth in exports and inventory rebuilding.

Another drop in construction spending in February, however, underscored weakness in real estate.

94. Independently Strong - Monday, March 29, 2010

Unlike their Wall Street brethren who for years made big bets chasing millions in quick profits, the management of Independent Bank has for 12 years followed a simple rule.

95. ISM: Service Sector Growth Increases in February - Thursday, March 04, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Growth in the U.S. service sector accelerated in February to its fastest pace in more than two years, but jobs remained hard to find.

Gains in the U.S. economy have so far been led by a rebound in manufacturing, as companies slowed their inventory drawdowns and exports rose.

96. Fed: Economy Grows, but Snowstorms Hurt Some Areas - Thursday, March 04, 2010

WASHINGTON (AP) — The economy has continued its slow growth but harsh snowstorms crimped activity along the East Coast last month, according to a Federal Reserve report.

The Fed's Beige Book survey, released Wednesday, showed that the nation's recovery is managing to plod ahead though not at a strong enough pace to persuade companies to ramp up hiring. The Fed said "economic conditions continued to expand ... although severe snowstorms in early February held back activity" in some places.

97. Reports Show Modest But Steady Economic Recovery - Tuesday, March 02, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) - Mixed reports Monday on manufacturing, construction and personal income and spending made clear that the economy is enjoying modest growth even though the recovery remains fragile.

98. Little Guys, Big Guys - Monday, February 22, 2010

No one would mistake a local institution like Tri-State Bank for one of Wall Street’s mighty titans of finance, whose recent woes brought the U.S. and world economies to their knees.

99. Service Sector Grows, Job Losses Moderate - Thursday, February 04, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – The economy’s service sector grew slightly in January, while the pace of job losses slowed, signaling a recovery still struggling to gain strength.

The Institute for Supply Management reported its service sector index rose to 50.5 last month from a downwardly revised 49.8 in December. Economists polled by Thomson Reuters had expected a higher level of 51. Still, it was the index’s strongest reading since May 2008.

100. Multifamily Survives Q4, Year - Thursday, January 14, 2010

The fourth quarter of 2009 proved to be a decent period for the local multifamily industry during an otherwise lackluster year. Though some market trends remained relatively unchanged from third quarter, the apartment sector enjoyed a rush of investment sales as more investors pulled the trigger on deals.