General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) announced a 5% hike in its dividend payout to a quarterly payment of 23 cents per share or 92 cents on an annualized basis. The current dividend hike is the seventh of its kind in the last five years. The increased dividend is payable on Jan 26, 2015 to shareholders of record as of Dec 18, 2014. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) in last trading activity moved down -0.41% to close at $24.49. Company weekly performance is -4.26% while its quarterly performance stands at -5.99%. General Electric Company (NYSE:GE) is -10.58% away from its 52 week high.
Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) has awarded $5,000 to Nebraska Sports Council under a program that lets Staples associates direct donations. The Staples associate who directed the funds, Dan Brockhaus, volunteers with the organization. On last trading day Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) moved up 2.31% to close at $17.25. Its volatility for the week is 4.40% while volatility for the month is 3.36%. SPLS’s sales growth for past 5 years was 0.00% and its EPS growth for past 5 years was -1.10%. Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) monthly performance is 28.25%.
On 10 December Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSEMKT:PZG) reported drill results for three additional holes from its San Miguel project in Mexico. The company stated that exceptional results from the three infill holes “are likely to upgrade resources to the measured and indicated categories and potentially increase the resource size and grade.” On last trading day Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSEMKT:PZG) moved down -8.54% to close at $0.64. Its volatility for the week is 10.04% while volatility for the month is 9.50%. PZG’s EPS growth for past 5 years was 10.20%. Paramount Gold and Silver Corp. (NYSEMKT:PZG) monthly performance is -4.43%.
HSBC Holdings plc (ADR) (NYSE:HSBC)‘s stock had its “hold” rating reiterated by research analysts at Shore Capital in a report released on Tuesday. HSBC Holdings plc (ADR) (NYSE:HSBC) has institutional ownership stands at 3.10%. In last trading activity company’s stock closed at $46.91.
Acasti Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:ACST) announced the grant of an aggregate of 180,000 incentive stock options under the Corporation’s Stock Option Plan for its senior executive and management team. Each option will vest gradually over a period of two years and will entitle its holder to purchase one common share of Acasti at a price of CDN $0.65 until October 19, 2019. On Tuesday shares of Acasti Pharma Inc. (NASDAQ:ACST) closed at $0.54.