Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, December 2, 1994                   TAG: 9412020088
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A13   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

DETROIT- Acceding to most of the demands of its largest stockholder, Kirk Kerkorian, Chrysler Corp. moved to boost the value of its stock Thursday and let the billionaire acquire more shares.

The Chrysler board increased the quarterly dividend to 40 cents a share from 25 cents and said it will buy back $1 million in stock, starting next year. The moves would tend to raise the stock price.

The board also relaxed Chrysler's anti-takeover defenses so they are not triggered until a stockholder acquires 15 percent of shares. The previous trigger was 10 percent.

-Associated Press

Fed officer says grads will get jobs

FARMVILLE - Most 1995 college graduates should be able to find work even though the economy is expected to slow next year, J. Alfred Broaddus Jr., president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, told Longwood College students.

Broaddus said economic forecasts call for a slowdown in national gross domestic product growth from about 4 percent this year to 2.5 percent by mid-1995. ``That would still be consistent with continued growth in jobs,'' he said.

-Associated Press

Target launches move into Virginia

CHESAPEAKE - A national discount retailer that competes with Wal-Mart and Kmart plans to open at least one store in the Hampton Roads area by 1996.

Officials at Target say the 611-store chain plans a store in a new shopping center in Chesapeake's Greenbrier section.

Target also was thought to be looking at sites in Norfolk, Virginia Beach and Newport News. The chain,

which has outlets in 32 states, hopes to open 50 to 60 stores next year as it expands through the mid-Atlantic region.

-Associated Press

Bell-Atlantic takes SCC rate proposal

RICHMOND - Bell-Atlantic Virginia, the state's largest local phone company, has accepted a new regulatory plan proposed by the State Corporation Commission. The plan allows Bell-Atlantic to collect unlimited profits on basic phone services in the state.

Bell-Atlantic, in return, must freeze rates for basic services through 2000 and cap rate increases after that at half the rate of inflation.

Consumer advocates and others are appealing the plan to the Virginia Supreme Court.

-Associated Press