Viewpoints

Facebook has introduced a new algorithm to its ranking system that determines which stories appear in users' News Feeds. After surveying Facebook users to define what makes a post “high quality,” Facebook built a machine learning system that uses over 1,000 factors and signals from users to detect high-quality content so it can be shown higher up in the News Feed.

Creative business people are invited to second annual CreativeMilwaukee@Work Summit, which will take place Friday, Nov. 8.

Startup Milwaukee has announced the launch of 96square, a new co-working space for startup companies in southeastern Wisconsin.

John Hazod has been named president and chief executive officer of Pewaukee-based Foundations Bank.

Marquette University will bolster computer science curriculum in high schools across the state thanks to a $844,000 grant the university has received from the National Science Foundation.

My colleagues and I frequently hear senior executives express concern that they aren’t able to stay on top of the endless stream of new books and magazine articles focusing on topics pertaining to successful leadership. Most recently, one of my executive coaching clients said, “I know I would benefit from doing more reading, but even with the best of intentions, I never seem to find the time!”

Wisconsin home sales were very strong in September, continuing the robust pace that has characterized the year according to the most recent housing report from the Wisconsin Realtors Association (WRA).

Reflecting the rebound of the U.S. housing market, Milwaukee-based MGIC Investment Corp. reported third quarter net income for of $12.1 million, or 4 cents per share, compared with a net loss of $246.9 million, or $1.22 per share, for the same quarter a year ago.

U.S. Bancorp, the Minneapolis-based parent company of U.S. Bank, reported third quarter net income of $1.5 billion, or 76 cents per share, comparable to $1.5 billion, or 74 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

The PNC Financial Services Group Inc., the Pittsburgh-based parent company of PNC Bank, reported third quarter net income of $1.0 billion, or $1.79 per share, compared with net income of $1.1 billion, or $1.99 per share, for the same period a year ago.