Lee Enterprises Inc., the Davenport-based media company that has been slashing away at debt in recent years, led the August gainers among stocks tracked by the Business Record, closing the month at $2.79 per share, a nearly 52 percent increase.

Overall, the Iowa Index, an unweighted average price of 23 Iowa-based public companies, was up 2.9 percent from July and closed the month at an average of $34.88 per share. The index gained 3 percent in July. The Dow Jones industrial average was down 0.17 percent at the end of August and the Nasdaq was down nearly 1 percent.

Other strong performers in August, were Workiva Inc., up $3.92 per share to $17.86, a 28 percent increase; Flexsteel Industries Inc., up $6.35 per share to $47.45, a 15.5 percent increase; American Equity Investment Life Holding Co., up $1.69 per share to $17.62, a 10.6 percent increase; Fidelity and Guaranty Life Insurance Co., up $1.94 per share to $23.80, a nearly 9 percent increase; and Art’s Way Manufacturing Co., up 25 cents per share to $3.08, an increase of nearly 9 percent.

Rounding out the top gainers on the Iowa Index were HNI Corp., up $3.71 per share to $55.84; FBL Financial Group, up $3.75 per share to $66.12, Principal Financial Group Inc., up $2.44 per share to $49.07, and West Bancorporation Inc., up 63 cents per share to $19.63.