Arkansas Index adds 2.01, ends at 356.43

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, climbed 2.01 to 356.43 Thursday.

“Telecommunications remained strong for a second-straight day, while the Nasdaq composite index underperformed other market indexes, closing down 0.6 percent although still up 18.6 percent year to date,” said Leon Lants, managing director at Stephens Inc. in Little Rock.

Dillard’s shares closed at $77.50, up 34 percent since June 30.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat

Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.