Chicago Sun-Times Business http://poll.suntimes.com/business/index.html Chicago Sun-Times http://poll.suntimes.com/images/cst_logo_300.gif http://poll.suntimes.com/business/index.html Copyright 2009 Digital Chicago Business en-us <![CDATA[Return of Bright Start savings looking better]]> Terry Savage: One of the remaining obstacles to settling the losses and distributing restitution to Illinois Bright Start investors was removed late last week. The state of Oregon, one of six states that had college savings plan funds invested in the supposedly conservative Oppenheimer Core Bond fund, dropped its lawsuit against the fund management company and agreed to settle for a $20 million payment.]]> TERRY SAVAGE Sun-Times Columnist]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Poised for powerful growth ]]> Ted Pincus: Chicago's likeliest big beneficiary of President Obama's stimulus package? Would you imagine that it might be an obscure, mundane and relatively new public company that is emerging as a leading force in electrifying America? ]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Navy Pier toy trade show exhibits latest thrills ]]> Last year, Shari Sopourn was trying to find a way to teach her kids about the recent government bailout of financial institutions. In the process, she and her husband, Jordy, created Bailout!, a board game that is a sort of anti-Monopoly.

]]> MARY HOULIHAN Staff Reporter/mhoulihan@suntimes.com ]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Blagojevich hires holding on]]> Gov. Quinn took office nearly 10 months ago saying he'd "fumigate state government" in the wake of his predecessor, Rod Blagojevich, being booted from office.

]]> DAVE McKINNEY, TIM NOVAK AND CHRIS FUSCO Staff Reporters]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Chicago area home sales soar 33.3 percent]]> Home sales spiked 33.3 percent in the Chicago metropolitan area in October from a year earlier, the fourth straight month of year-over-year increases helped by record low mortgage interest rates and a tax credit incentive that had been close to expiring.

]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Stocks climb in early trading as dollar weakens]]> NEW YORK -- Stocks surged in early trading Monday as the dollar continues to weaken and investors try to snap a three-day losing streak.

]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Top 2016 adviser Hayward named Cubs marketing chief ]]> The Cubs will announce today that Wally Hayward has been named executive vice president and chief sales and marketing officer, a new position within the baseball organization and one of the team's first major hires since the Ricketts family took control of the Cubs. Hayward will report to Cubs President Crane Kenney.

]]> LEWIS LAZARE Media & Marketing Columnist ]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Cadbury shares rise on report of Nestle interest]]> LONDON — Shares in British chocolate maker Cadbury PLC hit their highest level in at least five years Monday on reports that another rival, Switzerland’s Nestle SA, may make a takeover bid.

]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[InterimCEO.com helps execs connect]]> The idea of working for the same company for a decade, much less a generation, is so 20th century. When the unemployment rate eventually returns to a single-digit, don't expect things to be as they were.

]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Campbell Soup earnings rise as expenses fall]]> CAMDEN, N.J. -- Campbell Soup Co., the world's largest soup maker, said Monday its first-quarter earnings rose 17 percent as lower costs and more efficient supply chain offset the impact of a decline in soup sales.

]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Tyson Foods posts 4Q loss on charge, sales edge up]]> SPRINGDALE, Ark. -- Tyson Foods Inc., the world's largest meat producer, said Monday a hefty impairment charge in its beef business left it with a loss for the fourth quarter but said its sales rose and its chicken business was profitable for the second straight quarter.

]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Get the Sun-Times at Wal-Mart -- 7 days a week]]>

]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Inside one questionable clout hire ]]> Former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's administration wanted Louis Bertucci hired. So the clout-heavy Bertucci got hired.

]]> DAVE McKINNEY, TIM NOVAK AND CHRIS FUSCO Staff Reporters]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009 <![CDATA[Grocery store gimmicks and how to beat them]]> If you ever leave the grocery store with a slight sense of bewilderment at what you've just bought, you are not alone.

]]> 4:00 AM, Nov 23, 2009