Economic Development

Milwaukee-based global investment management firm Artisan Partners has announced it will open a new office in Sydney, Australia.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained another 80 points to pierce the 18,000 mark for the first time.

Milwaukee-based Joy Global Inc. reported fourth quarter net income of $136.9 million, or $1.38 per share, up from $26.8 million, or 25 cents per share, in the fourth quarter of 2013.

Milwaukee-based Actuant Corp. reported fiscal 2015 first quarter net earnings of $24.7 million, or 38 cents per share, down from $36.0 million, or 48 cents per share, in the first quarter of 2014.

Milwaukee-based The Marcus Corp. reported fiscal 2015 second quarter net earnings of $5.4 million, or 19 cents per share, up from $3.5 million, or 12 cents per share, in the second quarter of 2014.

Milwaukee-based restaurant company Lowlands Group has sold its Trocadero Gastrobar on Milwaukee’s East Side for $1 million, according to state records.

Donna Smith, executive vice president and head of corporate banking at Associated Banc-Corp, has announced she will retire on June 1, 2015.

U.S. Bank and First-Ring Industrial Redevelopment Enterprise Inc. announced that they have closed on nearly $2 million in financing for the 100-room Hampton Inn and Suites hotel project at 8201 W. Greenfield Ave. in West Allis near Wisconsin State Fair Park.

Mount Kisco, New York-based private equity firm Kohlberg & Co. LLC has agreed to acquire Pleasant Prairie-based PPC Industries Inc.

Associated Bank on Monday opened a new branch bank in Racine at 5205 Washington Ave.