Allegheny Energy Inc. said four proxy advisory firms have recommended that shareholders vote in favor of the company's proposed merger with FirstEnergy Corp. The advisory firms include ISS Proxy Advisory Services, Glass, Lewis & Co., Proxy Governance Inc. and Egan-Jones Proxy Services. A special shareholders meeting to vote on the merger is set for Sept. 14.

The Pennsylvania treasurer's office said credit unions in the state made some 35,000 short-term loans totaling $16.7 million under the industry's Better Choice program launched in late 2006 as a low-cost alternative to high-priced payday loans. The program saved consumers $12 million in fees since its inception, the treasurer's office said. Borrowers must be a member of a credit union to qualify. About 80 credit unions statewide offer the loans. For more details,visit www.PaCreditUnions.com.

Del Monte Foods Co. reported net income of $59.4 million, or 29 cents per share, in the first quarter, which compares to $58.6 million, or 29 cents per share, in the same period a year ago. In the three months that ended Aug. 1, the San Francisco maker of canned fruits and vegetables said sales dropped 1.1 percent to $804.6 million. Its consumer products division reported a drop of 6 percent while its pet products division posted a 3.6 percent sales gain. Del Monte, which has an administrative operation on Pittsburgh's North Shore, lowered its net sales growth target for the full fiscal year from a range of 2 to 4 percent to a range of 1 to 3 percent.

The number of buyers who signed contracts to purchase previously occupied homes increased in July but remained well below last year's levels, a sign that demand for housing remains weak. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday its seasonally adjusted index rose 5.2 percent from a month earlier to a reading of 79.4. A reading of 100 indicates the average level of sales activity in 2001 when the index started.

Mortgage rates fell to the lowest level in decades for the 10th time in 11 weeks. The average rate for a 30-year fixed loan was 4.32 percent this week, down from 4.36 percent last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. That's the lowest since Freddie Mac began tracking rates in 1971. The low rates have fueled a wave of refinancing by borrowers. Refinancing is at its highest level since May 2009 and makes up almost 83 percent of all new loans, its highest share since January 2009.

Burger King Holdings Inc., the nation's No. 2 hamburger chain, said Thursday that it is selling itself to private equity firm 3G Capital in a deal valued at $3.26 billion. Thursday's $24-per-share tender offer comes after a day of speculation about the deal that sent shares up more than 15 percent. The offer is a nearly 46 percent premium over the company's stock price before rumors of a buyout began circulating. Burger King shares rose $4.73, or 25.08 percent, to $23.59 in trading Thursday.

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