Vivint gets top

business award

Vivint, one of country's largest home automation and security services companies, received a gold award in the Corporate Responsibility of the Year category at the 10th annual American Business Awards, sponsored by top business publishers and marketers. The Provo-based company donated more than $1.25 million to charities in 2011.

House of Hope

aims to renovate

The House of Hope in Provo said it has been chosen to receive funds raised at the Utah Families Foundation annual golf tournament. The event will be staged in August at Zermatt Resort in Midway. House of Hope provides chemical dependency treatment services. The funds will be used to replace old tile and carpet.

Chamber gets

new leadership

The Utah Valley Chamber of Commerce named Hal Vale, vice president for university relations at Utah Valley University, as its new president and CEO. In addition, a new executive vice president position was created, filled by Donna Milakovic, president of the Lehi Area Chamber of Commerce since 2009.

U.S. sues China

over auto duties

The United States filed a trade complaint against China at the World Trade Organization, accusing it of unfairly imposing duties on $3 billion in American automobile exports. Under WTO rules, countries can impose punitive tariffs to offset damage from both subsidies and dumping — selling at below market value — but the U.S. contends China has used those remedies in an unfair and retaliatory way.

Walgreen plans

new acquisition

Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said it will buy a regional drugstore chain focused on the mid-South for $438 million. The chain includes USA Drug, Super D and May's drugstores. The acquisition is much smaller than the $6.7 billion deal Walgreen announced last month for a stake in Europe's Alliance Boots.

Moody's, S&P

ding Barclays

Two credit rating agencies took steps toward downgrading Barclays in the wake of a trading scandal that's seen three senior Barclays executives, including CEO Bob Diamond, resign. Although Moody's and Standard & Poor's maintained their ratings on the bank, they lowered their outlooks to "negative" from "stable."

Jobless claims down

in U.S., flat in Utah

Fewer people applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week, while activity in Utah was essentially flat. Applications dropped nationally by 14,000, to a seasonally adjusted 374,000, the fewest since the week of May 19. In Utah, claims rose by 17, to 1,637, while the four-week average reached 1,714, up three.