Coverage: South African company buying Sleepy’s/Mattress Firm for $2.4 billion

A South African retailing giant has agreed to acquire Sleepy’s parent Mattress Firm Holding Co. for $2.4 billion, marking its first foray into the United States. Alexandra Wexler of The Wall Street Journal had the news: Steinhoff, a family-owned furniture seller based outside Cape Town, South Africa, is called “Africa’s Ikea” for its home furnishing retail […]

Talking Biz News Today — Aug. 8, 2016

Some of Monday’s top business news stories: Associated Press As U.S. housing recovers, low incomes keep Detroit far behind, by Corey Williams Former Shell Labs site seeks to inspire new investors, by Shawn Marsh Bloomberg Airbus says UK fraud office starts criminal corruption probe, by Mark Deen and Andrea Rothman Western Europe’s biggest oil producer […]

Coverage: Nike gives up golf

Sporting goods giant Nike Inc. announced that it was exiting the golf equipment business as its main golfer Tiger Woods continues to rehabilitate from injuries. Krystina Gustafson of CNBC.com writes about what the announcement means for competitors: TaylorMade is also due for a shakeup. Though there aren’t plans to shutter the brand, Adidas will not aggressively […]

Talking Biz News Today — Aug. 5, 2016

Some of Friday’s top business news stories: Associated Press Brazil’s shrinking economy facing Olympic-sized troubles, by Paul Wiseman and Joshua Goodman U.S. stocks barely budge ahead of monthly jobs report, by Marley Jay Bloomberg Montag’s $15.5M pay at BofA draws interest from SEC, by Benjamin Bain and Laura J. Keller Hampton Creek ran an undercover project […]

Coverage: Wal-Mart wants to buy online retailer Jet.com

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. is in the process of bidding for online retailer Jet.com in a move that would increase its competition with Amazon.com. Greg Bensinger and Sarah Nassauer of The Wall Street Journal have the news: A deal could give Wal-Mart’s e-commerce efforts a much-needed jolt as the world’s largest retailer seeks to grow beyond its brick-and-mortar storefronts […]

Talking Biz News Today — Aug. 4, 2016

Some of Thursday’s top business news stories: Associated Press Scammers, bug spray companies capitalizing on Zika fears, by Linda A. Johnson Tesla loss grows as it falls short of sales goals, by Dee-Ann Durbin Bloomberg U.S. stocks climb as crude rebounds to $40, by Anna-Louise Jackson and Bailey Lipschultz Square quarterly forceasts tops estimates, boosts view, by […]

Coverage: Delta’s report causes concern about airlines

U.S. airlines marked the second-sharpest decline on the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index following a weak revenue report from Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines Inc. Michael Sasso and Mary Schlangenstein of Bloomberg News had the news: Passenger revenue for each seat flown a mile fell 7 percent in July from a year earlier, the country’s second-largest carrier by traffic […]

Talking Biz News Today — Aug. 3, 2016

Some of Wednesday’s top business news stories: Associated Press Water near Duke’s dumps not safe to drink, by Michael Biesecker July U.S. auto sales rose slightly on weaker demand, by Dee-Ann Durbin Bloomberg AIG announces $3 billion buyback as asset sales boost profits, by Sonali Basak Logan’s Roadhouse plans bankruptcy amid restaurant slump, by Lauren […]

Coverage: Elizabeth Holmes tries to salvage Theranos

Theranos Inc. founder Elizabeth Holmes presented a new blood-testing device to the medical world on Monday in a bid to save the company that has had to retract the findings of its previous blood testing results. John Carreyrou of The Wall Street Journal had the news: Speaking before an audience of laboratory scientists at the annual […]

Talking Biz News Today — Aug. 2, 2016

Some of Tuesday’s top business news stories: Associated Press Tesla’s deal for SolarCity could spur sustainable energy, by Dee-Ann Durbin Union seeks ouster of Southwest CEO after IT breakdown, by David Koeing Bloomberg Oil sinks into bear market as U.S. stocks drop; Treasuries fall, by Anna-Louise Jackson and Bailey Lipschultz IBM said to be in […]