LifePoint Hospitals more than doubled its second-quarter profits from a year ago on the back of a 5 percent increase in per-patient revenue and a drop in bad debt. The company (Ticker: LPNT) also raised its guidance for the rest of the year.

Lazard Asset Management sold more than 4 million shares of Louisiana-Pacific during July, slashing its stake to 5 percent. At the end of the first half, the money manager held 9 percent of the downtown-based company (Ticker: LPX), which recently suspended its dividend. Separately, LP shares were upgraded by RBC Capital Markets.

Meanwhile, California-based money manager Pacific Global, has beefed up its stake in America Service Group, adding almost 400,000 shares in the company (Ticker: ASGR) since March 31.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks about the improving prospects for Vi-Jon, the private-label consumer goods maker that bought locally based Cumberland Swan two years ago.