Walmart puts guns, ammo out of sight
Walmart Inc. has temporarily pulled ammunition and guns off its shelves in case of looting or civil unrest that could take place after next week's election.
"We have seen some isolated civil unrest and as we have done on several occasions over the last few years, we have moved our firearms and ammunition off the sales floor as a precaution for the safety of our associates and customers," Walmart said in an emailed statement. "These items do remain available for purchase by customers."
The retail giant made a similar decision this summer during unrest after the death of George Floyd in the custody of Minneapolis police in a move intended to thwart any theft if stores were broken into during protests.
A year ago, Walmart, which sells firearms in only about half its stores, said it would discontinue sales of .223-caliber ammunition and other sizes that can be used in assault-style weapons. It also announced plans to stop selling handguns in Alaska, the only state where it still sold them. The move followed deadly attacks at its stores in Texas and Mississippi that left 24 people dead and reinvigorated debate over gun sales at America's largest retailer.
The Wall Street Journal reported the news earlier.
-- Bloomberg News
'Pyramid' building sold in $650M deal
SAN FRANCISCO -- The Transamerica Pyramid, one of San Francisco's most iconic buildings, has sold for $650 million, eight months after a sales agreement was reached.
New York investor Michael Shvo, Deutsche Finance America and other investors bought the building from Aegon, owner of insurance company Transamerica Corp., the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday.
The building, the second-tallest in the city, had never been previously sold.
The price was initially over $700 million but the deal was delayed during the coronavirus pandemic, which disrupted the real estate market and sent most office workers home.
The new owners, which include Germany's biggest pension fund, Bayerische Versorgungskammer, plan to renovate the building that has been a recognizable part of the San Francisco skyline since it was built in 1972.
The deal also includes two nearby buildings, at 505 Sansome St. and 545 Sansome St., which is a potential development site. The three buildings total around 760,000 square feet
-- The Associated Press
Arkansas Index up 3.36, ends at 418.83
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, closed Thursday at 418.83, up 3.36.
"Equities rallied after initially opening the session lower as the energy and communication services sectors outperformed ahead of earnings reports from several technology bellwether stocks Thursday afternoon," said Leon Lants, managing director at Stephens Inc.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.