NEWS IN BRIEF

Arvest Bank reports state’s best earnings

Arvest Bank, the largest Arkansas-based bank in the state with more than $14 billion in assets, reported the highest earnings in the state last year with $125 million in net income, according to filings with bank regulators.

First Security Bank of Searcy was second among Arkansas-based banks with slightly more than $100 million in net income in 2013, followed by $92 million made by Little Rock-based Bank of the Ozarks.

Centennial Bank of Conway reported almost $70 million in earnings last year, followed by First Financial Bank of El Dorado with almost $24 million in net income.

Centennial Bank had the second-highest total in assets with $6.8 billion, followed by Bank of the Ozarks with $4.8 billion and First Security Bank with $4.3 billion.

  • David Smith

Best-garden contest seeks school entries

Entries are being accepted for the Arkansas Grown School Garden of the Year contest sponsored by the Arkansas Agriculture Department and Farm Credit.

Any Arkansas school, pre-kindergarten though 12th grade, that had a garden during the 2013-14 school year can enter.

Schools must provide photo or video documentation of the garden and its use.

Entries must be submitted online by Aug. 31 and will be judged by a committee.

The winning garden will receive $1,500. Winners in the categories of Best Nutrition Based Garden, Best Community Collaboration Award and Best Environmental Education Focused Garden each receive $500.

  • John Magsam

Export data is cited as state index drops

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, slipped 0.19 to 334.85 Monday.

“The major averages ended lower on the session, albeit well off of their worst levels as disappointing export data out of China heightened concerns that global growth may be slowing,” said Bob Williams, senior vice president and managing director of Delta Trust Investments Inc. in Little Rock.

P.A.M. Transportation Services Inc. shares jumped more than 10 percent and set a 52-week high before closing with a gain of almost 9.8 percent in active trading, Williams said.

Acxiom dropped more than 2.5 percent as some traders responded to an unflattering story about the data-mining industry that aired Sunday on CBS’ 60 Minutes, Williams said.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.

Business, Pages 23 on 03/11/2014

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