Business

Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

IN BRIEF

Yates to build Keesler tower

W.G. Yates & Sons Construction Co. in Biloxi has won a $37.26 million federal contract to build a hospital at Keesler Medical Center.

The four-story inpatient tower on Keesler Air Force Base was authorized under the last round of Base Realignment and Closure Commission decisions and legislation in 2005.

The addition is on the northeast corner of the present hospital.

Construction is expected to be completed by September 2011.

Hancock Holding Company wins Alabama Quality Award

Hancock Holding Company, parent company of Hancock Bank, has won a 2009 Alabama Quality Award from the Alabama Productivity Center at The University of Alabama. Hancock received the Level 2 service sector Progress toward Excellence Award for advancement in building sound, notable systematic processes that improve results in key areas of the company.

The Alabama Quality Award recognizes organizations that use effective productivity and quality improvement strategies, techniques or practices that can be shared with other institutions to help the state’s overall economy.

Dollar pulls off 15-month low despite U.S. support

The dollar pulled off a new 15-month low in late trading Wednesday after the euro rose above $1.50, while Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner reiterated the administration’s stance that a strong dollar is good for the U.S. economy.

The expectation that the Federal Reserve will keep the key U.S. interest rate near zero has been weighing on the dollar. Higher interest rates make a currency more attractive for investors, since bets made in that currency can earn higher returns

Hewlett Packard to buy 3Com for $2.7B

Hewlett-Packard Co., looking to expand into a business long dominated by Cisco, said Wednesday it has agreed to buy networking software and equipment maker 3Com Corp. in a deal the companies valued at $2.7 billion.

— Staff and wire reports