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US stocks jump as employers cut 23,000 jobs, raising hopes that rate hikes can wait

NEW YORK — Stocks rose on Wall Street Friday and Treasury yields fell after the government reported that employers unexpectedly cut 23,000 jobs last month. Every major index notched a second straight week of gains, which included several fresh records. It marks a strong start to August following several weak months. The S&P 500 rose 47.68 points, or 0.6%, to 7,757.64. That topped the all-time high it set on Tuesday. The benchmark index has been on a record run throughout the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 151.83 points, or 0.3%, to 54,036.93. That put it just short ...

Meridian unveils relocated primary care facility

YOUNGSTOWN — Meridian HealthCare recently relocated one of its primary care facilities to a new — but familiar — location, the Judge Joseph Donofrio Center. Its grand opening was accompanied by Meridian’s annual Health and Wellness Fair. While Meridian Healthcare mainly focuses on ...

Last week’s unemployment claims near 47K

Staff report Ohioans filed 46,684 unemployment claims for the week of July 26-Aug. 1, the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services reported. A total of 4,417 initial unemployment claims were filed last week, which was 638 fewer than the previous week. Ohioans filed 42,267 continued unemployment claims last week, which was 1,028 more than the previous week. Ohio’s unemployment rate in June was 3.6%. The national unemployment rate in June was 4.2%. Ohio’s labor force participation rate in June was 61.6%. The national labor force participation rate in June was 61.5%.

US stocks hold near records on hopes of an agreement with Iran

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks meandered to a mixed finish on Wall Street Wednesday and remained close to their records, while oil prices held steady. The uncertain trading on Wall Street followed two days of big gains that gave the week and August a strong start. Several big technology companies slumped, though, ultimately weighing down the market. The S&P 500 fell 12.97 points, or 0.2%, to close at 7,723.55. The index spent most of the day higher after surging to a record on Tuesday. “The coiled spring investors have been waiting for has finally released, with the S&P 500 Index ...

First Niles nets $245K in second quarter

Staff report First Niles Financial Inc., the holding company for Home Federal Savings and Loan Association of Niles, recorded net income of $245,000 for the three months ended June 30, compared to net income of $100,000 for the same period in 2025, an increase of $145,000, or 145%. For the six months ended June 30, First Niles recorded net income of $487,000, compared to net income of $187,000 for the same period in 2025, an increase of $300,000, or 160.4%. Primary earnings per share for the three and six months ended June 30 were $0.16 and $0.31, respectively, as compared to ...

US job openings slip to 7.4M, but labor market remains resilient

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. job openings fell slightly in June, but the labor market continued to show resilience in the face of an economic shock from fighting in Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Employers posted 7.36 million vacancies in June, down from 7.54 million in May, the Labor Department said Tuesday. The numbers were in line with economist expectations. Openings rose by 97,000 at warehouse, transportation and utility companies and 39,000 at federal government agencies. Openings dropped at wholesalers and manufacturers of nondurable goods. Layoffs were ...