McClatchy Newspapers Inc. of Sacramento said it...

McClatchy Newspapers Inc. of Sacramento said it has signed an agreement to acquire three daily newspapers and five ancillary publications in York and Beaufort counties in South Carolina from the News & Observer Publishing Co. of Raleigh, N.C. . . . Program trading in August amounted to 10.3% of average daily New York Stock Exchange volume, or 17.7 million shares a day, the exchange reported. In July, program trading accounted for 9.4% of daily volume, or 15.3 million shares a day. . . . The number of working U.S. oil and gas rigs increased by two last week to total 967, continuing a slow but steady rise and remaining above year-ago levels of 917 for the fourth straight week, Baker Hughes Inc. of Houston reported . . . Industrial Equity (Pacific) Ltd. has raised its stake in Cummins Engine Co. to 14.9% from 13.5%, the third increase in less than a week.