Ideas

Investment managers are becoming less positive on the U.S. economy and corporate earnings due to the expected negative impact of a recession in Europe and slower growth in China, according to a survey conducted in the second quarter by Northern Trust Bank.

Chicago-based Taylor Capital Group Inc. announced that Cole Taylor Bank is expanding its commercial banking business into southeastern Wisconsin through the opening of a new office in Franklin.

Hartland-based Town Bank plans to open a new office in a freestanding building in The Woodlands Market retail center in Menomonee Falls. The bank will hold a grand opening in the late summer or early fall.

The median asking price for Milwaukee companies listed on BizBuySell.com dropped to $259,500 in the second quarter, down 5.6 percent from a year ago.

Palermo's Pizza workers will vote July 27 on whether to form a union, the NLRB decided last week.

Milwaukee-based Koss Corp. announced a partnership with Mossy Oak.

Racine-based Johnson Outdoors Inc. unveiled a plan to improve the profit profile of its Watercraft business.

Bradley Corporation has opened its new Germantown plant, a 190,000-square-foot facility in Germantown Business Park.

Mayor Tom Barrett announced that Milwaukee has joined President Barack Obama’s Better Buildings Challenge, pledging to reduce the city’s commercial energy consumption 20 percent by 2020.

Wisconsin's economy could get a boost if Congress moves quickly to take advantage of new trade opportunities with Russia. Congressional inaction, on the other hand, would allow other countries' companies to get into the market first and gain a competitive edge over companies from Wisconsin and the United States.