Penguin to buy Simon & Schuster for $2.17B, create publishing giant
The purchase of Simon & Schuster would reduce the so-called Big Five of American publishing—which also includes HarperCollins, Hachette Book Group and Macmillan—to four.
Associated Press
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As economy struggles, Fed weighs boosting bond purchases
The Federal Reserve since June has been buying $120 billion in bonds each month to keep downward pressure on long-term interest rates as a way of giving the economy a boost as it struggles to emerge from a deep recession.
Wiping down groceries? Experts say keep risk in perspective
Experts say the national fixation on scrubbing sparked by the pandemic can sometimes be overkill.
Consumer spending up only slightly as virus maintains grip
U.S. consumers increased their spending by a sluggish 0.5% last month, the weakest rise since April, when the pandemic first erupted.
Orders for manufactured goods show unexpected October gain
The strength in October came primarily from the volatile category of defense orders, with demand for military aircraft surging by 79.1%.
National, Indiana jobless claims up for second straight week as virus worsens
In Indiana, 20,454 people filed initial unemployment claims in the week ended Nov. 21, up from an adjusted number of 15,422 the previous week. Prior to the pandemic, the state was typically seeing fewer than 3,000 claims per week.
Left for dead twice, RadioShack getting another shot online
The big question: How much value does the RadioShack brand have when the prized target audience of younger consumers might have never owned a radio, let alone stepped inside a RadioShack store?
Ex-Purdue professor, wife get probation for research funds fraud
Qingyou Han, 62, and his wife, Lu Shao, 54, were ordered to pay a combined $1.6 million in restitution after pleading guilty to using more that $1 million in federal research funds for their own personal expenses.
State investigation of casino execs has expanded to more than 10 people
The Indiana Gaming Commission has more than 10 people under investigation for possible financial misconduct that would violate state casino laws or regulations, said Sara Gonso Tait, the commission’s executive director.
Indiana lawmaker quitting weeks after winning reelection
State Rep. Christy Stutzman said she needed to devote more time to her family’s business after the family and business partners earlier this year bought the former Amish Acres tourist attraction that they renamed The Barns at Nappanee.
President Trump directs his team to cooperate on Biden transition
Still, the Republican president vowed to keep up the fight, saying his case “strongly” continues.
Retail trade group foresees solid holiday sales despite pandemic
The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, expects holiday sales to actually exceed growth seen in prior seasons, even amid all the uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.
Biden expected to tap ex-Fed chair Yellen to lead treasury
Former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen would be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department in a line stretching back to Alexander Hamilton in 1789.
Employers start sending workers shopping for health coverage
The new approach started with coverage plans for this year. More workers will likely see them offered this fall during their company’s annual sign-up window for 2021 coverage.
Third major COVID-19 vaccine shown to be effective, cheaper
AstraZeneca is the third major drug company to report late-stage results for a potential COVID-19 vaccine as the world anxiously waits for scientific breakthroughs that will bring an end to a pandemic.
Retailers brace as virus bears down on consumers, economy
The acceleration of coronavirus cases is causing an existential crisis for America’s retailers and spooking their customers just as the critically important holiday shopping season nears.
Business owners upbeat about vaccine, wary as virus spreads
Promising news about a coronavirus vaccine has small business owners feeling more upbeat. They also realize many hurdles remain as the pandemic shows no signs of abating heading into the winter.
Mnuchin denies trying to hinder incoming administration
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said a decision to end several emergency loan programs being run by the Federal Reserve was based on the fact that the programs were not being heavily utilized.
Trump makes late-term bid to lower prescription drug costs
In a time of political uncertainty, it’s hard to say whether the rules will withstand expected legal challenges from the pharmaceutical industry or whether the incoming Biden administration will accept, amend or try to roll them back entirely.
Health experts clash over use of certain drugs for COVID-19
In a separate development, the FDA on Thursday gave emergency authorization to use of another anti-inflammatory drug sold by Eli Lilly, baricitinib, to be used with remdesivir.