Ideas

The performance by the equity markets in October was in line with expectations as the presidential election cycle made its presence felt.

Cudahy-based Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc. announced it has acquired all of the outstanding stock of Central Cal Transportation, a Fresno, Calif.-based provider of intermodal transportation and related services.

U.S. job growth accelerated in October, with the private sector adding a seasonally adjusted 171,000 jobs, exceeding most expectations, but the stubborn unemployment rate ticked one-tenth of a percentage point higher to 7.9 percent, as more people resumed looking for work.

Milwaukee played host to the second annual Women in Manufacturing conference last week, attracting women from all over the country who work in the manufacturing industry to the Pfister Hotel.

Milwaukee-based Weyco Group Inc. reported third quarter net earnings of $5.2 million, or 48 cents per share, up from $4.4 million, or 40 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Glendale-based Johnson Controls Inc. reported a fiscal fourth quarter net loss of $8.0 million, or 1 cent per share, compared with net income of $234 million, or 34 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

The Milwaukee-area manufacturing sector continued its decline in October, according to a report released by the Institute for Supply Management-Milwaukee.

U.S. automobile sales rose in October, despite the sales lost to Hurricane Sandy over the past week.

Roadrunner Transportation Systems Inc., a Cudahy-based asset-light transportation and logistics service provider, reported fiscal fourth quarter net income of $9.9 million, or 31 cents per share, up from $7.2 million, or 23 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Milwaukee-based Briggs & Stratton Corp. has announced the opening of a wholly owned subsidiary, Briggs & Stratton Malaysia SDN BHD.