NORTH KINGSTOWN

Panel moving forward with probe of Senesco

PROVIDENCE — The Rhode Island Commission for Human Rights has determined that there is probable cause that Senesco Marine violated state anti-discrimination laws, according to the Rhode Island Affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed a complaint against the North Kingstown shipbuilder.

The ACLU made the complaint in January, alleging that Senesco discriminates against workers with disabilities, and fails to make “reasonable accommodations” for them as required by state law.

The basis for the case was an employment application form that required all Senesco job applicants to attest that they were “physically and mentally capable of performing the essential job duties of the position for which [they] have applied” and that they “have no need for changes or adjustments in the essential duties of the job in order to allow [them] to meet the demands of the position.”

Senesco amended the job application after the ACLU first alerted the company to the problems in the application. The ACLU, however, maintains that the changes do not go far enough. The shipbuilder has said it has not discriminated against any workers.

The state commission will continue to investigate the case before issuing a ruling.

Staff report

PROVIDENCE

Bank of Scotland posts third-quarter losses

Royal Bank of Scotland, owner of Providence-based Citizens Financial Group, reported third-quarter losses of $2.98 billion and said loan impairments are “plateauing” and forecasts are brightening.

The Royal’s U.S. operations, which include Citizens, lost $67 million in the quarter. Citizens took $296 million in impairment charges for sourced loans in the third quarter, up from $258 million in the year-ago period.

The Royal Bank, based in Edinborough, Scotland, is 84 percent owned by the British government, which has directed a divestiture plan to sell off assets. But the Royal’s executives said they would not have to sell Citizens as part of its negotiations with regulators. In the earnings report, Citizens said it is still being affected by the sluggish U.S. economy.

Staff report

Commodities

Dollar: In trading against major currencies yesterday in New York, the dollar ended at 89.99 Japanese yen, from Friday’s close of 89.93 yen. The euro closed at 3:30 p.m. at $1.4999, from $1.4835.

Metals: Gold for current delivery closed at $1100.80 a troy ounce on the New York Mercantile Exchange, from Friday’s close of $1095.10. Silver closed at $17.470 an ounce, from $17.365.

Fuels: December light, sweet crude oil rose $2 to $79.43 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. December heating oil rose 5.9 cents to $2.0627 a gallon.

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