Shares of First PacTrust Bancorp (Nasdaq: FPTB) jumped in Friday trading after the company reported its second consecutive quarter of earnings growth.

San Diego's contribution to gross domestic product grew -- even accelerated -- in 2008, according to a recent report by the National University System Institute for Policy Research, which seemed to contradict local evidence of economic weakness.

Ardea Biosciences (Nasdaq: RDEA) shrunk its quarterly loss in the third quarter thanks to an upfront fee from its license agreement with Bayer.

San Diego-based Applied Solar Inc. (OTC: APSOQ) has closed the previously announced sale of its assets and operations to Quercus APSO LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Quercus Trust in Newport Beach.

Medical-device company NuVasive Inc. (Nasdaq: NUVA) said Friday that it named Michael Lambert as its chief financial officer, succeeding Kevin O'Boyle.