Japanese startups face hurdles in exit opportunities
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee Entrepreneurship is becoming a more accepted career path in Japan, but certain persistent traits of Japan’s economy and culture are adding a color of their own and altering the trajectory of growth. In the U.S., the term “serial entrepreneur” is used to describe those who start multiple new businesses, grow them […]
Discover Financial seen advancing with industry tailwind
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee Analysts are optimistic about growth prospects for Discover Financial Services in 2017 as the company continues to post stronger than expected loan growth. The banking and payment services company based in Riverwoods, Ill., continues to expand its national footprint while riding on the growth tailwind of the credit card business. Discover […]
Logan Square toy store thrives despite retail headwinds
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee In a gentrifying neighborhood increasingly attractive to families and children, boutique toy store Play is thriving in an otherwise struggling toy retail industry. The store, owned by toy business consultant Ann Kienzle, has been growing its reputation as a specialty store since first opening on West Logan Boulevard seven years ago. […]
Business inventories rise in January, signaling economic growth
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee Business inventories for manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers in January increased a seasonally adjusted 0.3 percent, after a 0.4 percent rise in December, according to data released Wednesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Auto inventories posted the sharpest rise — up a seasonally adjusted 2.4 percent. Economists said a broad increase in […]
For decades, Kuni’s in Evanston stays true to sushi tradition
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee On Saturday afternoon, two elderly Japanese women sat at the sushi bar at Kuni’s Japanese Restaurant in Evanston. They were waiting for their “omakase,” or chef’s choice, sushi lunch. Yuji Kunii, the sushi chef and owner of the store, stood behind the sushi bar, carefully making a series of exquisitely shaped […]
Kohl’s profit and sales decline, stock drops
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE:KSS), a Wisconsin-based department store chain with more than 1,100 stores nationwide, Thursday reported its net income declined by 14.9 percent to $252 million in the fourth quarter ended Jan. 28 from $296 million a year before. But diluted earnings per share beat Bloomberg’s consensus estimate of $1.29 per […]
Expensive Chicago parking tickets contribute to huge bankruptcy filings
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee Costly parking tickets are causing thousands of cash-strapped Chicago drivers to flock to the federal bankruptcy court to get their vehicles released from city auto pounds. Of the 8,809 Chapter 13 consumer bankruptcy filings that attorney Tom Vaughn, a Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Trustee in Chicago, oversaw in 2016, 47 percent listed […]
Wintrust Financial reports 54 percent boost in quarterly net income
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee Wintrust Financial Corp. (NASDAQ:WTFC), an Illinois-based bank holding company providing community banking and financial services, late Wednesday reported its net income increased by 53.8 percent to $54.6 million in the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31 from $35.5 million a year before. Diluted earnings per share beat Bloomberg’s consensus estimate of 91.6 […]
Caesars Entertainment bankruptcy approved after two years in court
By Katherine Hyunjung Lee In what he described as a “monumental” case, Judge A. Benjamin Goldgar of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Chicago approved on Tuesday the chapter 11 reorganization of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company, closing the $18 billion bankruptcy case that began two years ago. Caesars Entertainment Operating Co., a wholly owned subsidiary of […]
