Tuesday, July 6, 2004 Company helps cope with disaster
Disaster recovery of information technology and business operations from fire, flood, hurricane or terrorist attack itself can be a disaster.
Tech sector leads stock lower
NEW YORK-- Rising oil prices and disappointing forecasts for the technology sector sent stocks skidding Tuesday, with pessimism over the economy further fueling the selloff. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell more than 2 percent, its biggest loss since mid-March.
New extension for carpenters, contractors
Giving a holiday boost to the local construction industry, Chicago's carpenters union reached agreement on a new, three-year contract extension with the area's key contractors group.
Pioneer sets the bar for Innovation Awards
Since 1982, Zebra Technologies of Vernon Hills has made its black-and-white mark on tags that help companies track inventory, organize documents and trigger prices on cash registers as read with scanners.
Airbus concedes that weight of new jet is superjumbo
PARIS -- Airbus SAS conceded Monday what aviation watchers have long suspected: The European aircraft maker's new A380 superjumbo has a weight problem.
Complete PR guide lives up to name
The first public relations practitioners were probably advance men for traveling circuses in the 19th century. These promoters traveled a few days ahead of the circus troupe, stopping in towns where the big top was to put on a show.
Retailers trying to cope with 'demon customers'
Some retailers are deciding that the customer can be very, very wrong -- as in unprofitable. And some, including Best Buy, are discriminating between profitable customers and shoppers they lose money on.
Business Briefs
The Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace at Boeing's Wichita plant will vote Wednesday on a contract offer, their third during the current negotiations. This time, a strike could hang on the outcome. The latest offer includes wage increases of 3.5 percent the first year, 3 percent the second and third year and a ''market percentage'' in the fourth year. A $1,800 lump sum is payable if the contract is approved. A Boeing spokesman said the company is ''fairly certain'' it can continue operations at the Wichita plant in the event of a strike by its second-largest union, which represents 3,400 employees. Monday, July 5, 2004 Violent games under attack
In video games these days, you can strangle someone with a garrote (''Manhunt''), pop an enemy's head off in a shower of gore with a sniper shot (''Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy'') and direct a teenage girl to shotgun a demon dog (''Silent Hill 3'').
Remotes multiply as most electronics come with them
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- As the creator of television's first wireless remote control nearly 50 years ago, Robert Adler spawned generations of viewers who do their channel changing from the couch.
War and Independence
During World War II, businesses in Chicago faced challenges beyond just simple supply and demand. Labor shortages, a lack of raw materials, and the rationing of meat, gas and rubber severely affected area companies, forcing them to adapt to a wartime economy or go out of business. Sunday, July 4, 2004 Oil fuels household price increases
They are just a few of the household items getting more expensive due to the high cost of oil and natural gas, important raw materials for these products and the source of energy needed to manufacture and ship them.
Market's interest renewed in dividend-focused funds as more firms make payouts
headline:Market's interest renewed in dividend-focused funds as more firms make payouts Saturday, July 3, 2004 Job news wilts Wall Street
NEW YORK -- Fresh questions about the strength of the economic recovery sent stocks lower Friday as a disappointing report on job creation weighed heavily on investor confidence. All three major indexes lost ground for the week.
IBM moving local offices to West Loop
IBM Corp. said Friday it will move its Chicago operations from its namesake tower at 330 N. Wabash to the West Loop, a deal that shows how technology is curbing corporate appetites for office space.
Check, please: McDonald's ends old-fashioned diner experiment
headline:Check, please: McDonald's ends old-fashioned diner experiment
Business Briefs
Mark Hornung, president and publisher of the Daily Southtown newspaper, resigned Friday in the wake of a circulation scandal at the Chicago Sun-Times. Earlier this week, Hornung was placed on administrative leave by Hollinger International, owner of both newspapers, amid an inquiry into inflated circulation figures at the Sun-Times. Hornung ran the Sun-Times circulation department from 1995 through 2001. His successor in that post resigned Monday. Also on Friday, the Sun-Times hired a new circulation director, Paul Glaeser. Friday, July 2, 2004 Manufacturing, jobless claims hurt stocks
NEW YORK -- Stocks sagged Thursday as lower-than-expected activity in the manufacturing sector and a slight rise in weekly jobless claims stifled investor enthusiasm after two days of gains. The Dow Jones industrials lost more than 100 points, while tech stocks fell on concerns about Intel and Yahoo.
Brown's beefs up
Brown's Chicken & Pasta is seeking to take a bite out of the market for Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef -- an effort that's revving up sales.
Unemployment rate remains unchanged
WASHINGTON-- Employers hired less help in June than economists anticipated-- adding 112,000 new payroll jobs-- and the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.6 percent for a third straight month.
Boeing's stock performance means bonuses
The steady ascent of Boeing Co. shares despite a series of ethics scandals is paying extra dividends for current and former employees, who qualified this week for bonus payments worth up to about $900 in stock or cash.
AT&T boosting some rates, blames wholesale hike for SBC
headline:AT&T boosting some rates, blames wholesale hike for SBC
Can in Coke promotion spurs concern in military
There's a new security threat at some of the nation's military bases -- and it looks uncannily like a can of Coke.
Time Warner makes preliminary MGM bid: reports
LOS ANGELES -- A bidding war has broken out for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, with Time Warner offering about $3 billion in cash and stock for the venerable Hollywood studio plus the assumption of $2 billion in debt, according to newspaper reports.
Business Briefs
Trading at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the biggest U.S. futures market by transactions, and the Chicago Board of Trade, the second-largest, rose last month, giving both exchanges record quarters. An average of 3.16 million contracts changed hands at the Merc each day in June, up 5.4 percent from a year earlier. In the quarter, daily trading rose 26 percent to an average of 3.4 million contracts. Trading at the CBOT rose 15 percent to a daily average of 2.26 million in June and a 2.52 million average in the quarter. Shares of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Holdings rose $2.96, or 2 percent, to a record close of $147.33. They have doubled this year. A seat at the Board of Trade, which is owned by members, sold Wednesday for a record $950,000. Thursday, July 1, 2004 Fed raises key interest rate
The Federal Reserve raised short-term interest rates by a quarter of a percentage point on signs that the economy is improving, and suggested it may make similarly sized increases in the future.
Sears to buy, convert up to 54 Kmart stores
Sears, Roebuck & Co. said it will buy up to 54 Kmart Corp. stores for about $620 million, giving Sears more free-standing locations to better compete with Target, Kohl's and other retailers that don't anchor shopping malls.
New Motorola device weds phone with two-way pager
Motorola Inc. on Wednesday unveiled its new peekaboo device that looks like a phone on the outside, but can be flipped open to reveal a keyboard to send e-mail and instant messages.
Appeals court OKs Microsoft antitrust deal
WASHINGTON -- A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday unanimously approved the landmark antitrust settlement Microsoft Corp. negotiated with the Justice Department, setting aside objections by Massachusetts that sanctions were inadequate against the world's largest software company.
Rates drop today on some SBC packages, services
SBC Illinois said rates on some of its residential phone packages and services like caller ID have decreased under an annual rate-setting formula, according to filings with Illinois regulators.
Boeing to sell aircraft electronics unit to BAE
DALLAS -- Boeing Co. said Wednesday it plans to sell its Texas-based commercial aircraft electronics business to BAE Systems. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Developer wants to put 140-unit building at Marigold Bowl site
headline:Developer wants to put 140-unit building at Marigold Bowl site
Biz, consumers benefit from tech innovation
Have you had your fill of technology? Is the technology you already have really "good enough"?
Monkey portfolio besting market at mid-year point
The Sun-Times stock-picking monkey is again putting Wall Street's rat pack to shame. His five-stock portfolio, selected at the start of 2004, has a year-to-date gain of 14 percent.
A month left for Innovation Awards nominations
Innovation comes in many shapes and in all industries, but it's the spirit of innovation that is common throughout.
Business Briefs
United Airlines announced a 5 percent fare increase Wednesday on most flights to international destinations from the United States, citing rising fuel costs as the reason. The increase is the latest of numerous attempts by U.S. carriers this year to try to have passengers share the burden of soaring jet-fuel prices. American Airlines and Continental Airlines matched United's higher ticket prices on some routes. Wednesday, June 30, 2004 Fed increases key interest rate
WASHINGTON-- The Federal Reserve boosted a key short-term interest rate by a one-quarter percentage point Wednesday, its first rate increase in four years, in an attempt to keep the economy and inflation on an even keel.
Bank One in $90 million settlement on fund trading
Just two days before the completion of its sale to J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Bank One agreed to a $90 million settlement with regulators over allegations that a unit of the bank improperly gave special trading favors to a hedge fund manager at the expense of other shareholders.
Appeals court approves Microsoft antitrust settlement
WASHINGTON-- A U.S. appeals court on Wednesday approved the landmark antitrust settlement Microsoft Corp. negotiated with the Justice Department, setting aside objections by Massachusetts that its sanctions were inadequate against the world's largest software company.
Sears acquiring Kmart, Wal-Mart stores
DETROIT-- Kmart Holding Co. will sell up to 54 of its stores to Sears, Roebuck and Co. for up to $621 million, the retailers said Wednesday. Sears also is acquiring leases on seven stores held by the retailing giant Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
Consumer confidence jump boosts stocks, eases worry
NEW YORK -- Wall Street posted a healthy advance Tuesday as consumer confidence surged to a 22-month high and quelled investor concerns about the economy a day before the Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates.
Wrigley to cut jobs on South Side
Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co. is giving workers at its South Side factory something new to chew on -- job losses.
Allstate now will let those planning trips to Israel apply for life insurance
headline:Allstate now will let those planning trips to Israel apply for life insurance
U.S., others suspending talks on steel until next year
WASHINGTON -- The United States and other countries trying to reach a global agreement to limit government subsidies to the steel industry announced Tuesday that they are suspending the deadlocked discussions until some time next year.
Greenspan strong leader despite lame-duck status
WASHINGTON -- Poised to raise interest rates for the first time in four years, the Federal Reserve on Tuesday began debating how fast and how high. But one issue wasn't in doubt -- the man controlling the debate was still Alan Greenspan.
Toyota, Lexus top J.D. Power dependability survey
DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Corp. remains the automaker with the most dependable vehicles, led by its Lexus luxury brand, though Detroit's Big Three manufacturers all showed improvement in the past year, according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates vehicle dependability study, released Tuesday.
Business Briefs
Sara Lee Corp., maker of Earth Grains bread, plans to cease production at two bakeries in Texas, eliminating 306 jobs. The company agreed to sell the assets of its Houston bread and bun bakery to Flower Foods Inc. after production ceases in September, Sara Lee said. The San Antonio bread and bun bakery will be closed by Dec. 31.
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