Use of meth among isle workers decreases

Methamphetamine use among those tested for their workplace fell in the first quarter to 0.6 percent from 0.8 percent in the last quarter of 2013, while marijuana use remained flat at 2.3 percent, according to the latest statistics released by Diagnostic Laboratory Services Inc.

"We are seeing an overall downward trend in the use of amphetamines (speed, meth), marijuana and synthetic urine," Carl Linden, scientific director of toxicology at DLS, said in a news release.

Synthetic urine is used to mask marijuana in drug testing, so DLS verifies whether urine is real or not.

Cocaine use among workers rose slightly to 0.3 percent from 0.2 percent in the fourth quarter, and the use of synthetic urine climbed to 0.4 percent from 0.3 percent.

DLS said it does between 7,000 and 10,000 drug tests for workers and job applicants per quarter.

Economic activity increasing across nation

WASHINGTON » A Federal Reserve survey shows economic growth picking up across most of the United States over the past two months.

Ten of the Fed’s 12 regions reported an increase in economic activity, according to the Beige Book survey released Wednesday. In March and early April, consumers took advantage of better weather to go shopping. Manufacturing expanded across most of the country. Ports and highways were busier. Across most of the country, home prices rose modestly and homebuilding picked up. Tourism was generally positive.

The Beige Book is based on anecdotal reports from businesses and will be considered, along with other data, when Fed policymakers meet later this month.

Zoosk filing for IPO possibly worth $100M

Online dating service Zoosk is filing for an initial public offering worth as much as $100 million.

The company says its Behavioral Matchmaking engine gathers data about users as they send messages and accept connections. That allows it to offer better connections. Zoosk says its app was the highest-grossing dating app on the iPhone in the U.S. in 2013.

Zoosk did not say how many shares it might sell. The San Francisco company wants to list its shares on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "ZSK."

Zoosk lost $20.7 million in 2012 and pared its deficit to $2.6 million in 2013, while its revenue grew 63 percent to $178.2 million. Subscriptions grew 35 percent to 650,000 last year, and memberships grew about 44 percent to 26 million.

Hardware-business drop hurts IBM profits

NEW YORK » IBM’s first-quarter earnings fell 21 percent to $3.03 billion and revenue of $22.5 billion came in below Wall Street’s expectations amid an ongoing decline in its hardware business, one that was exacerbated by weaker demand in China and emerging markets.

The world’s largest technology services company has been working to expand into new areas as its hardware business falters, but the latest results show that these efforts have yet to fully pay off.

The company is in the process of selling its low-end server business to China’s Lenovo Group as it continues to shift its focus toward more lucrative software and services. It is also investing heavily in Internet-based computing services and in Watson, its cognitive computing operation made famous in beating a pair of "Jeopardy!" champions.

BofA legal costs contribute to $514M loss

CHARLOTTE, N.C. » Bank of America said Wednesday that it swung to a loss in the first quarter, hurt by $6 billion in legal charges.

The Charlotte, N.C., bank reported a loss applicable to common shareholders of $514 million, compared with a profit of $1.11 billion a year earlier. The loss amounted to 5 cents a share. A year earlier, the bank earned 10 cents a share. Revenue totaled $22.66 billion after stripping out an accounting change. That was down 3.8 percent from last year.

The $6 billion legal expense stems from a previously announced settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and additional reserves for other mortgage-related matters.

Cameron returns as CEO of Reynolds

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. » Reynolds American has elected board member and former leader Susan Cameron as president and CEO of the tobacco company.

Cameron previously served as president and CEO of the company from 2004 to 2011 before she retired. She rejoined the company’s board in December. The 55-year-old Cameron will take on the CEO job again starting May 1.

ON THE MOVE

Outrigger Enterprises Group has named Sheryl Tsu­gawa assistant general manager at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach. She joined Outrigger in November 2010 as a marketing and sales manager to the Holiday Inn Waikiki Beachcomber Resort. Before joining Outrigger, Tsu­gawa was previously the operations manager of IHG Army Hotels in Honolulu as well as associate manager for development marketing at IHG’s corporate offices in Atlanta.

TheMaui Farm has been awarded a grant of $8,000 from the Fred Baldwin Memorial Foundation for a collateral marketing materials project. The funds will support the farm’s resource development program, including upgrades to the agency’s video, brochures and website.

Damon Key Leong Kupchak Hastert has hired Christopher J.I. Leong as an associate in the firm’s litigation and alternative dispute resolution practice group. Before joining the firm, Leong served as a law clerk to associate justice Paula A. Nakayama of the Hawaii Supreme Court.