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Weekly Market Summary – 9/5/12

Equity markets traded sideways and in a fairly narrow range last week, with the S&P 500 Index declining just 28 basis points (bsp). The Russell 2000 Index, which represents small-cap stocks, was the best performer, gaining 40 bps.

Despite all the hype in the media surrounding the Federal Reserve (the Fed) meeting in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, last week, the event turned out to be a dud, with European Central Bank (ECB) President Mario Draghi backing out at the last minute and no real news from Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke. Read more now.

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Named as a Best Place to Work in Maine

The Maine State Council of the Society for Human Resources Management announced that Allen Insurance and Financial in Camden is one of 42 companies that have been named in the seventh annual Best Places to Work in Maine program.
From this list, all companies in each category will find out how they ranked at an awards banquet Oct. 11 at the Ramada Conference Center in Lewiston.
The 2012 Best Places to Work in Maine program recognizes companies that have established and consistently fostered outstanding workplace environments. Partners endorsing the program include: Best Companies Group, Maine HR Convention, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, MyJobWave.com, and Mainebiz.
The assessment process, administered by the Best Companies Group, evaluated each company’s employee policies and procedures as well as responses from the company’s employees. The program also helps companies that want to improve their score. The Best Companies Group’s Employee Feedback Report is presented to each participating company, even if it did not make the list. The report summarizes employee engagement and satisfaction data, the Maine Benchmark Report, and the transcript of employee written comments. The report is used by many organizations to make significant improvements in their workplace culture.
Listed alphabetically, the 42 companies are:
• Allen Insurance and Financial, Camden
• Androscoggin Home Care & Hospice, Lewiston
• athenahealth, Inc., Belfast
• Bangor Savings Bank, Bangor
• Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Bar Harbor
• Bernstein Shur, Portland
• Biddeford Savings Bank, Biddeford
• Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, East Boothbay
• BONNEY Staffing Center, Inc., Portland
• CashStar Inc., Portland
• CIANBRO, Pittsfield
• Cintas Corporation, Westbrook
• Consigli Construction Co., Inc., Portland
• Edward Jones, Eliot
• FISC Solutions, Lewiston
• Garrand, Portland
• Gorham Savings Bank, Gorham
• GreenPages Technology Solutions, Kittery
• Hall Internet Marketing, Portland
• Holden Agency Insurance, Portland
• Hollywood Casino Bangor, Bangor
• Hurley Travel Experts, Inc., Portland
• Infinity Federal Credit Union, Westbrook
• Kepware Technologies, Portland
• Machias Savings Bank, Machias
• Maine Credit Union League/Synergent, Portland
• Maine Savings Federal Credit Union, Hampden
• Mechanics Savings Bank, Auburn
• MedTech Media, New Gloucester
• MOUNTAIN, LTD, New Gloucester
• MPX, Portland
• New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc, Norway
• PeoplesChoice Credit Union, Saco
• Plixer International, Inc, Sanford
• PRC Industrial Supply, Portland
• Putney, Inc, Portland
• Skowhegan Savings Bank, Skowhegan
• Town & Country Federal Credit Union, South Portland
• Turner Barker Insurance, Portland
• Tyler Technologies Inc, Yarmouth
• Unum, Portland
• Winxnet, Portland

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Joella Rossignol Honored by Safeco Insurance

Joella RossignolFor the third consecutive year, Joella Rossignol, a personal insurance specialist at Allen Insurance and Financial has been honored with the Award of Excellence for her superior underwriting skills and long-term commitment to Safeco® Insurance, member of Liberty Mutual Group.
This award was given to only three personal insurance specialists in Maine.
The Award of Excellence celebrates those individuals with superior underwriting skills who have developed a solid underwriting partnership with Safeco and have qualified for membership in Safeco’s H.K. Dent Society, the company’s elite agency recognition program. Agents who earn this prestigious designation will have the ability to make selected underwriting decisions, attend an awards ceremony and receive a recognition gift.
Rossignol joined Allen Insurance and Financial in 1999. A native of IslandFalls, she grew up in Belfast and now lives in Monroe. She is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC), a designation showing commitment to continuing education in her field.

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Weekly Market Summary – 7/10/12

The 10-year Treasury yield stood at 1.51 percent early Monday morning, down from the previous week when it was as high as 1.66 percent. Investors turned to these safer assets on news of weaker-than-expected job numbers, continued concerns out of Spain, and an apparent third round of quantitative easing (QE3) that may come sooner than anticipated. Read more now.

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Weekly Market Summary – 7/2/12

After four days of back-and-forth trading to start the week, equities decidedly moved to rally mode after the eurozone agreement. The S&P 500 Index gained 2.08 percent for the week. Strength in the financials sector helped boost value over growth, and small-cap stocks outperformed large-cap peers. Read more now in our Weekly Market Summary.

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