Biz briefs

MAU offers career transition workshops

Augusta-based MAU Workforce Solutions is providing free workshops on surviving a layoff.

One of the half-day workshops will be held from 9 a.m. to noon April 1 at 519 Greene St.

The others will be held in Greenville, S.C., on March 31 and Charleston, S.C., on April 2.

The public workshops are designed for active job seekers and will provide career counseling for attendees from all industries.

The workshops will discuss financial planning, job search and interview tips, networking strategies and resume preparation.

Oil prices hold steady in wake of good news

HOUSTON --- Oil prices briefly topped $54 a barrel Monday, getting a boost from stock investors who seemed hopeful a new plan to resolve the nation's banking crisis would spur economic growth. Better-than-expected housing news helped too.

Benchmark crude for May delivery rose $1.73 to settle at $53.80 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, continuing its upward momentum. Prices climbed as high as $54.05.

On Friday, oil ended the week above $50 a barrel for the first time this year, and prices have risen 30 percent this month.

"Generally, we've had moderately good economic news of late," said Michael Lynch, president of Strategic Energy & Economic Research.

"That's giving people some optimism that maybe demand will be picking up. If the (new banking) plan is effective, so much the better."

-- From staff and wire reports