YRC Worldwide Inc. said Monday it has begun its offer to creditors to convert about $537 million in debt to equity.</p><p>If successfully completed, bondholders will end up owning about 95 percent of YRC&rsquo;s common stock. </p><p>Common shareholders will see their stake in the company cut by a similar amount.</p><p>YRC, the Overland Park-based trucking giant, said the debt-for-equity exchange is necessary to improve its capital structure and improve near-term liquidity. </p><p>This offering is the latest in series of steps YRC has taken to survive amid the long recession. </p><p>YRC said the offer is being made after months of dialogue with representatives of the note holders. </p><p>Still, when the offer was announced last week, it drew sharp criticism, and shares in YRC dropped more than 50 percent.</p><p>The exchange offer will end late on Dec. 7, unless otherwise extended by the company.</p><p>Shares of YRC fell 4 cents, or 3.3 percent, to close at $1.18 on Monday. </p><p>They have ranged from 89 cents to $6.26 in the past year.</p><p><strong><span class="subhead">EPT stock offering</span></strong></p><p>Entertainment Properties Trust on Monday announced a proposed offering of 4.5 million shares of common stock.</p><p> The real estate investment trust also expects to grant underwriters an over-allotment option to purchase an additional 674,000 shares.</p><p>The proceeds are to be used for general business purposes, the Kansas City company said.</p><p>Entertainment Properties shares closed Monday at $33.66, up $1.40.</p><p><hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> @ Investors can get information on stocks and mutual funds free online at The Kansas City Star&rsquo;s Web site. Just go to the Business page at KansasCity.com.</p><p></div> <hr class="infobox-hr-separator" /> <div class="infobox"> <strong><span class="infobox-head">U.S. markets </span></strong><br /> The Dow Jones industrial average stormed to its highest level in more than a year Monday as a falling dollar boosted prices for gold, oil and other commodities. Stocks also jumped as investors grew more confident that governments around the world will keep interest rates low to help the global economy.</p><p> Energy and materials stocks led the market. </p><p> The Dow rose 203.52, or 2 percent, to 10,226.94, its highest finish since Oct. 3, 2008. The Dow&rsquo;s gain of 455 points, or 4.7 percent, since Wednesday is its biggest four-day climb since July. The index rose as high as 10,228.23, topping its previous 12-month trading high of 10,119.46 set last month.</p><p> The broader Standard & Poor&rsquo;s 500 index rose 23.78, or 2.2 percent, to 1,093.08, its sixth straight advance. The Nasdaq composite index rose 41.62 to 2,154.06.</p><p></div>