IN BRIEF

NEW YORK

Supply disruption fears send oil prices surging

Oil prices shot up more than $5 a barrel Thursday, rising to the highest level in more than two weeks as escalating tensions with Russia stoked fears of supply disruptions to the West.

Light, sweet crude for October delivery jumped $5.62 to settle at $121.18 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange after earlier rising as high as $122.04, crude's highest trading level since Aug. 4. Crude prices have settled higher for three straight sessions. In after-market trading, prices rose $6.17 to $121.72 a barrel.

The price jump came as retail gasoline prices continued to fall, shedding more than a penny overnight to a new national average of $3.702, according to auto club AAA, the Oil Price Information Service and Wright Express. Prices have now fallen 10 percent from record highs above $4 a gallon set July 17.

Silver State Bancorp may face delisting

Silver State Bancorp of Henderson on Thursday said it could be delisted from the Nasdaq National Market if it fails to replace an audit committee member who resigned from the board.

Andrew McCain served on the board's audit committee, but he resigned on July 26 from the board. He is the son of presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain.

Nasdaq allows the company to act to replace McCain with another independent director on the audit committee by January and to continue with its stock listing in the meantime.

The company is recommending that Philip Peckman, the acting chairman, be appointed to the audit committee to replace McCain.

Nevada Power to hold Energy Assistance Expo

Nevada Power Co. on Saturday will hold its annual Energy Assistance Expo to help people get help with power bills, secure money for home weatherization and learn about energy conservation.

The expo will be open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dallas Ballroom in Texas Station, 2101 Texas Star Lane. Nonprofit organizations and government agencies will participate in the expo.

About 2,000 consumers attended the expo last year.

Visit nevadapower.com/help for information on the expo.

MINNEAPOLIS

Airline regulators seek penalty against United

The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing an $18,000 civil penalty against United Airlines for two maintenance violations the FAA said occurred before a United jet skidded off a runway and ended up in three feet of snow in February.

The FAA disclosed the fine on Thursday after The Associated Press asked about violations cited in FAA documents acquired under the Freedom of Information Act. The FAA said it notified United of the proposed penalty on Friday.

A Feb. 25 flight with 125 people aboard slid off the runway after landing in Jackson Hole, Wyo. No one was seriously hurt. The National Transportation Safety Board said in March that the A320 at Jackson Hole and another United A320 that also skidded off a runway had crossed wiring in their main landing gear.

Profit news lifts stock of Bally Technologies

Bally Technologies, second-largest U.S. maker of slot machines, rose as much as 6.9 percent Thursday in New York trading after reporting fourth-quarter profit rose 69 percent and reiterating its full-year forecast.

Casino owners are buying Bally's popular slot machines to attract gamblers as U.S. consumers curb trips amid the economic slump.

Bally said it still expects to earn $2.10 to $2.50 a share in the year ending in June 2009. Excluding some items, it sees $2.27 to $2.67. Eleven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg predict average earnings of $2.34, not including some costs.

Bally shares rose $2.57, or 8.2 percent, to close at $33.90 on the New York Stock Exchange.

NEW YORK

Treasury prices decline on latest jobless report

Treasury prices mostly fell Thursday, giving up some of their recent gains as the Labor Department reported a larger-than-expected decline in claims for unemployment benefits.

In late trading, the 10-year Treasury note fell 0.19 points to 101.41. Its yield rose to 3.83 percent from late Wednesday's yield of 3.80 percent.

The 30-year long bond fell 0.22 points to 100.56. Its yield rose to 4.46 percent from 4.44 percent late Wednesday.