Banking & Finance

That the state is an investor, equal to other investors, needs to be a fundamental principle in any venture capital bill going forward in Wisconsin.

Milwaukee-based Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. announced that Jon Langenfeld has been promoted to head of global equities with overall responsibility for Baird’s equity research, sales and trading operations.

First Business Financial Services Inc. the Madison-based parent company of First Business Bank and First Business Bank -Milwaukee, reported strong fourth quarter and record full year earnings, reflecting successful execution on initiatives to grow loans and in-market deposits, invest in fee-generating capabilities and improve asset quality.

The U.S. economy shrank in the fourth quarter for the first time since 2009, hurt by the largest cut in defense spending in 40 years, fewer exports and sluggish growth in company stockpiles.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. reported that its fourth quarter motorcycle sales increased 7.5 percent worldwide during the fourth quarter of 2012.

Modine Manufacturing Company a fiscal third quarter net loss of $8.7 million, or 19 cents per share, compared with net income of $9.0 million, or 19 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Johnson Outdoors Inc. reported fiscal first quarter net income of $247,000, or 2 cents per share, which was an improvement over a net loss of $2.9 million, or 30 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Investing is a calculated risk vs. return wager. It is not a guarantee.

Now that the “fiscal cliff” has been averted, new laws mean taxes will be going up on almost everybody. Here are some planning tips to consider:

A great deal of positive chatter about Wisconsin's economy in 2013 is coming out of the state's banking sector.