Wal-Mart says hires of vets at 153,000
Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has hired 153,000 veterans since Memorial Day 2013, according to Chief Executive Officer Doug McMillon.
McMillon updated the retailer's progress in its goal of hiring at least 250,000 veterans by 2020 during a Veterans Day ceremony Friday at the company's home office. About 19,000 of those veterans hired as part of the Veterans Welcome Home program have been promoted within the past three years, the update said.
"We're looking for leadership skills," McMillon said. "We're looking for people who have discipline. People who can run stores and bigger parts of our business that can help develop other people. With a military background, you have those skill sets."
The Walmart Foundation also announced Friday that it has awarded a $5 million grant to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families for its AmericaServes program, which offers veterans the tools needed for transitioning back to civilian life. The funding is in addition to last year's $1 million grant.
-- Robbie Neiswanger
Still on rise, index ends day at 347.22
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, continued its climb, rising 5.51 to 347.22 Friday.
Fourteen stocks gained ground and four dropped.
Bear State Financial rose almost 10 percent on more than three times its average volume.
ArcBest, Home BancShares and J.B. Hunt Transport each set 52-week highs.
For the week, 14 stocks rose and four declined.
ArcBest had the best week, gaining 25.7 percent. But three stocks were up by more than 21 percent and 11 had gains above 11 percent.
Communications Sales & Leasing fell 4.8 percent for the week.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
Business on 11/12/2016