Fewer people fly on Hawaiian Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines’ passenger traffic dipped 1.6 percent in February despite filling up a greater percentage of its seats.

The state’s largest carrier reported Monday that it transported 828,582 people compared with 842,412 in the year-earlier period. Its load factor, or percentage of seats filled, increased 3.8 percentage points to 82.9 percent from 79.1 percent.

Revenue passenger miles, or one paying passenger transported one mile, rose 4.8 percent to 1.14 million from 1.09 million. Available seat miles, or one seat transported one mile, was virtually flat at 1.38 million.

GM sheds money drain, gains cash with sale

DETROIT >> GM on Monday sold its European Opel and Vauxhall brands to French carmaker PSA Group for roughly $2.33 billion, retreating from the world’s third-largest auto market after almost two decades of futile efforts to make money. The brands have lost $20 billion in the fiercely competitive region since last making a full-year profit in 1999.

New Exxon chief enters market cautiously

HOUSTON >> Darren Woods, the new CEO of Exxon Mobil, is emerging from a more cautious wing of the oil business, where controlling costs is the name of the game. It could be a study in contrasts from his predecessor Rex Tillerson, a longtime pathfinder from the rough-and-tumble exploration side.

Losses pull U.S. stocks from record highs

NEW YORK >> U.S. stocks finished lower Monday for the second time in the last three trading days. Banks gave back some of their recent gains after a jump in interest rates last week sent them sharply higher. There were few winners to be found on Wall Street as more than two-thirds of the stocks on the New York Stock Exchange fell.

U.S. factory orders up 1.2 percent in January

WASHINGTON >> U.S. businesses increased their orders in January, although a key component that tracks business investment spending fell for the first time in four months. The Commerce Department says factory orders rose 1.2 percent, led by a jump in demand for aircraft.

ON THE MOVE

Mayor Kirk Caldwell has named Jim Howe director of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department, effective as of Wednesday. He was the incorporating officer of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association when it formed in 1991, and is the current chairman of the State of Hawaii Drowning and Aquatic Injury Prevention Advisory Committee.

First Insurance Co. of Hawaii has announced the following promotions:

>> Kevin Kurosu is the new assistant vice president of Commercial Underwriting. He previously held leadership positions at FICOH, including supervisor in 2009 and manager in 2014. His experience includes working for National Interstate and American Express Financial Advisors.

>> Linda O’Reilly is the new assistant vice president of Claims. She joined FICOH in 1982 and has held various positions in the Workers’ Compensation Claims department, including adjuster, supervisor and manager. O’Reilly has served as lead manager in charge of the company’s Work Comp unit since 2013.