Home builders feel more confidentConfidence among home builders remains well below levels considered optimistic, but the National Association of Home Builders says its monthly confidence index did rise in November for the second straight month.
The Washington trade association says part of the gain in confidence comes from builders seeing fewer tire-kickers.
A measure of future expectations among builders rose to the highest level since before the expiration of the homebuyer tax credit in the spring.
Census work boosts Vangent
Vangent Inc., losing money a year ago, reported a healthy third-quarter profit this year, largely from its contract to help the government conduct the 2010 census.
The Arlington company had third-quarter revenue of $176.4 million, up 23 percent from $143.5 million a year earlier. Third-quarter net income was $3.96 million compared with a $5.3 million loss a year earlier.
Vangent was one of several subcontractors on Lockheed Martin Corp.’s $500 million Census Bureau contract, operating call centers in three states as part of the census.
Washington Gas parent invests in solar
Washington Gas parent company WGL Holdings Inc. has invested $55 million in a California solar power company.
WGL Holdings made a $50 million investment in American Solar Direct Inc., a Santa Monica, Calif., residential solar system installer, and a $5 million equity investment in its parent company, American Solar Direct Holdings Inc.
