U.S. corn futures matched their all-time high Monday on increased concerns federal forecasters will slash their supply outlook this week. Get the full story »
Sprint to get jump on mobile payment crowd
Bloomberg News | Sprint Nextel Corp. has plans to start a service allowing customers to make payments with their mobile phones this year, beating rivals AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile to the punch.
Walgreens, Chase, TiVo warn of email breach
A data breach at one of the world’s largest providers of marketing-email services may have enabled unauthorized people to access the names and email addresses for customers of major financial-services, retailing and other companies.
While no financial information was compromised, the major concern is that the emails and names could be used for “phishing,” that is, phony emails asking unsuspecting consumers to divulge information such as account numbers, log-ins or Social Security numbers. Get the full story »
Study: Abbott heart-valve device safe, effective
Abbott's MitraClip. (Abbott)
Abbott Laboratories’ experimental device to repair leaky heart valves continues to show promise in patients two years after they have been treated, new research published in the New England Journal of Medicine today shows.
The MitraClip device, which is currently being review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for possible approval, is considered an important development for heart patients with mitral regurgitation because serious cases require open-heart surgery to repair their valves. It could be on the U.S. market by the end of this year. Get the full story »
Blockbuster gift cards another Chapter 11 casualty
Heads up anyone with a Blockbuster gift card. Better use it right away.
As part of Blockbuster’s bankruptcy process, the movie rental company will not honor any of its gift cards after April 6, as technically the company will be sold to creditors. Get the full story »
Shares of Hub Group leap on intermodal deal
Hub Group Inc. acquired privately held Exel Transportation Services for $83 million, in a deal that combines intermodal transportation companies with complementary services. Get the full story »
LivingSocial expands Family to west suburbs
Daily deals provider LivingSocial has launched its Family Edition in Chicago’s western suburbs, offering discounts on kid-friendly activities. Get the full story »
‘Fail whale’ forces hasty Twitter data center move
An ambitious plan to prevent “Fail Whales,” the cartoon icon that greets frustrated Twitter users during network outages, turned into a fail whale of its own.
A new, custom-built facility in Utah to house computers that power the popular messaging service by the end of 2010 has been plagued with everything from leaky roofs to insufficient power capacity, people familiar with the plans told Reuters. Get the full story »
Brunswick: Chinese yacht sales to grow 25% in ‘11
From Bloomberg News | Brunswick Corp., owner of the Boston Whaler and Sea Ray brands, forecasts sales growth of 25 percent in China this year as boating gains popularity, Chief Executive Officer Dustan McCoy said. Get the full story>>
College Illinois halts new investments
From Crain’s Chicago Business | The state agency that runs the College Illinois prepaid tuition program is putting all new investments on hold as it confronts mounting questions over its unconventional strategies for the fund that backs the college savings of 55,000 students. Get the full story>>
Discover Financial names new CFO
Discover Financial Services in suburban Riverwoods today named R. Mark Graf as its chief financial officer. The credit card company said Graf, 46, will oversee Discover’s financial operations, including treasury, accounting, investor relations and all financial reporting functions. Get the full story »
Sbarro files for bankruptcy
A Sbarro Inc. employee serves patrons at a restaurant in Columbus, Ohio. (Reuters_
Pizza chain Sbarro Inc. said Monday it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection under a plan that would remove more than half of the company’s total debt. Get the full story »
Abbott absorbable stent shows good results
Abbott Laboratories Inc.’s experimental Absorb heart stent, designed to dissolve and thereby restore the blood vessel’s natural flexibility, has proven safe and effective a year after being implanted in patients, researchers said. Get the full story »
Katie Couric leaving anchor chair at CBS
Katie Couric in 2006 just before starting her job anchoring the "CBS Evening News." (AP)
Katie Couric is leaving her anchor post at “CBS Evening News” less than five years after becoming the first woman to solely helm a network TV evening newscast.
A network executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because Couric has not officially announced her plans, reported the move to the Associated Press on Sunday night. The 54-year-old anchor is expected to launch a syndicated talk show in 2012 and several companies are vying for her services. Get the full story »
