LOS ANGELES-Halloween's barely over, but Southland retailers are already looking forward to what promises to be another strong season for holiday sales and a merry Christmas for owners of local shopping centers.

LOS ANGELES-Aviant Group takes 11,100 sf of office space inside Kilroy Airport Center.

LOS ANGELES-The merger will create the fourth largest bank in the California market and the 19th largest in the US. Separately, two other big SoCal banking players suffer after Wall Street analyst lowers his recommendations.

LOS ANGELES-Planners give unanimous blessing to Hileman Co.'s conversion and expansion of aformer Teledyne plant, clearing the way for work to begin as early as next month.

LOS ANGELES--Planners give unanimous blessing to Hileman Co.'s conversion and expansion of former Teledyne plant, clearing way for work to begin as early as next month.

LOS ANGELES--Mable Express Inc. pays $1.4 million for building site and plans to put a warehouse there.

LOS ANGELES--Two new economic reports say LA may create even more jobs next year than in Y2K, fueling retail sales and spurring demand for everything from new office space to hotel rooms.

LOS ANGELES--Development company acquires 51,000-sf center that stands at one of the South Bay's busiest intersections.