LI stock index, March 18

337.84 (week’s change: -0.4%)

52-week return: +0.1%

The Newsday Long Island Index was lower for the third week in the last four, pulled down by Garden City kitchenware seller Lifetime Brands (-9%), Cedar Realty Trust (below) and Jericho fast-food restaurant chain Nathan’s Famous (-8%). BRT Apartments (below) was the week’s best performer among stocks in the index. The index tracks the 30 largest Long Island-based companies by stock market value.

BRT Apartments (BRT)

Great Neck

11.40 (week’s change: +8.9%)

52-week return: +45.0%

Shares had their biggest weekly point gain in six months after the real estate investment trust that specializes in multifamily properties raised its quarterly dividend by 11 percent.

Cedar Realty Trust (CDR)

Port Washington

3.67 (week’s change: -8.7%)

52-week return: -27.7%

Retail store woes, including last week’s announcement Toys R Us will close its 740 U.S. stores, have taken a toll on shopping center owners like Cedar, which hit a six-year low.