Here is a look at more of Wednesday's top business stories:
Poll gives executives passing grade
MENLO PARK, Calif., Feb. 19 (UPI) -- Accountemps said a new survey of executives gives their peers just passing grades on leadership abilities.
The temporary staffing service for accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals said its survey found 61 percent of the senior managers it polled characterized corporate leaders as good or excellent in their roles.
The poll also showed 36 percent of survey respondents said executives are doing only a fair job.
The survey, which includes responses from 150 executives with the nation's 1,000 largest companies, showed only 12 percent of the executives rated the leadership abilities of most executives as excellent while 3 percent rated their leadership abilities as poor.
Max Messmer, chairman of Accountemps, said: "Effective management requires more than simply assigning tasks among the team. Leaders have a responsibility to inspire others to achieve their full potential.
"Those in a position of authority set an example for others," Messmer said.
"Strong leaders have a strategic mindset, sound judgment, enthusiasm for their work and the ability to prioritize competing projects. They also must be able to cultivate these same qualities in the people they hire," Messmer added.
