COLUMBIA -- South Carolina’s largest publicly traded companies as a whole trailed the stock performance of the nation’s largest firms in 2007. The stock of South Carolina’s 16 largest companies, measured by annual revenue, dropped by 20 percent in 2007, while the S&P 500 Index rose by 4 percent during the same period. Just four of the S.C. companies -- UCI Medical Affiliates, BlackBaud, ScanSource and SCANA -- saw their stock prices increase.

Read more at The (Columbia) State...

COLUMBIA -- Regional business and government leaders have joined to create a forum where local officials can come together and discuss common problems and potential solutions. The initial participants are Cayce, West Columbia, Lexington, Columbia, and Richland and Lexington counties, but other communities might be invited to join later. The effort is being spearheaded by the Midlands Business Leadership Group and the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce as an outgrowth of the Good to Great effort launched earlier this year.

Read more at The (Columbia) State...

GREENVILLE -- AdvanceSC, funded with profits from Duke Energy's Bulk Power Marketing program and managed by an independent board of directors, recently provided a $200,075 grant to the Upstate Alliance for the development of an “Online Decision Support System.” This grant will enable the Upstate Alliance to create and maintain a state of the art Web site to support the marketing efforts of the Alliance.

GREENVILLE -- BMW Manufacturing Co. and Duke Energy Corp. are discussing whether to partner on a solar energy plant at the automaker's campus along Interstate 85, a first-of-its-kind venture between the power company and one of its largest industrial customers. BMW said the companies have had meetings on the subject.

Read more at The Greenville News...

GREENVILLE -- A record number of people plan to drive more than 50 miles from home for the Christmas holiday, in spite of higher gas prices this season. A survey from AAA Carolinas found that more than 808,000 motorists in South Carolina and 1.64 million in North Carolina are expected to travel during the holidays, although gas prices have climbed 30 percent since last Christmas. The number of anticipated holiday travelers is up 1.5 percent from last year, making it the fifth straight year for an increase in Christmas holiday auto travelers in the Carolinas.

Read more at The Greenville News...