Dole keeps dividend at 15 cents a share

Dole Food Co. said it will pay a dividend of 15 cents a share on June 13 to shareholders of record May 16. Dole had been paying a quarterly dividend of 10 cents a share but bumped it up to 15 cents with the last quarterly payout this month.

State economic index resumes downward slide

Hawaii's leading economic indicator, which broke an 18-month downward trend in November, fell again in December as the economy tried to recover from Sept. 11 and the 2-year-old recession. Seven of the 10 components that make up the index lost ground, with only the national leading index, interest rate spread and Japanese labor earnings posting gains.

Nevertheless, Seiji Naya, director of the Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, saw a silver lining in the numbers.

"Overall, the components of the LEI are signaling slower growth, but we should note that two of the three national components were positive in December," he said. "This is consistent with other national indicators that are showing signs of recovery.

"A better-than-expected recovery in visitor arrivals in recent months, in conjunction with these signs of improvement in the U.S. economy, are expected to fuel a faster recovery."

United recalling 1,300 workers, adding 900

CHICAGO >> In another sign of the airline industry's modest recovery, United Airlines said today it is recalling an additional 1,300 employees who were laid off last fall and hiring an 900 more in key markets.

The ramp, customer and cabin service employees are being recalled at United's five hubs -- Chicago, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington-Dulles -- to help the carrier meet its expanded summer schedule.

United said earlier it is adding 170 daily flights to its summer schedule, effective June 7, including a flight from the mainland to Kauai. That would bring the Elk Grove Village, Ill., airline's schedule to almost 1,900 daily flights, compared with 2,400 before Sept. 11.

In other news ...

LONDON >> Gucci Group reported earnings that exceeded forecasts. Gucci said its profits fell to $278.4 million for the fiscal year ended Jan. 31 from $336.7 million the prior year.

Gucci blamed reduced demand in markets like Hawaii for the falling profits. "The United States economy is heating up," Gucci Chief Executive Domenico De Sole said. "But for us it will take a little time. Hawaii, for instance, is dependent on Japanese tourism, and that has not come back yet."

SANTA CLARA, Calif. >> Applied Materials Inc said business is starting to pick up and it will split its stock 2-for-1 as demand for chips rebounds.