Banking & Finance

Buoyed by a barrage of paid political campaign television commercials, Milwaukee-based Journal Communications Inc. reported third quarter net earnings of $7.7 million, or 14 cents per share, up from $4.4 million, or 7 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

The U.S. economy sped up in the third quarter, as the gross domestic product grew at a 2 percent clip from July through September, up from 1.3 percent in the second quarter, according to the Commerce Department.

First Business Financial Services Inc., the parent company of First Business Bank and First Business Bank-Milwaukee, reported record third quarter results highlighted by growth in revenue, in-market deposits, commercial loan balances and problem loan resolutions.

Getting your profits out of China ironically begins before you have made any. The assumption in China seems to be that any business coming here needs to be very specific about every detail of what they intend to do.

A study from Dalbar Inc. released in April found the average equity investor underperformed the S&P 500 for the preceding one, three, five, ten and twenty year periods. Many investors in 401(k) accounts choose their investments and rarely change them. Investors also tend to make decisions based on which investments did well the year before.

Racine-based Twin Disc Inc. reported fiscal first quarter net earnings of $1.3 million, or 11 cents per share down from record earnings of $9.6 million, or 83 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. reported third quarter net income of $134.0 million, or 59 cents per share, down from $183.6 million, or 78 cents per share, as the company restructured its production process at its largest plant in York, Pa.

Koss Corp., the Milwaukee-based high-fidelity headphone company, reported fiscal first quarter net income of $366,153, or 5 cents per share, up from $280,597, or 4 cents per share, in the same period a year ago.

The U.S. economy has been slow to recover, unemployment remains high, the federal government's credit rating has been downgraded and some still fear the economy could slip back into a recession as more uncertainty looms in world markets because of the impending European debt crisis.

Jannsen + Company, an accounting and business resources firm based in Pewaukee, has forged a partnership with the Milwaukee Admirals Hockey Club as part of its growing initiative to coach athletes in wealth management and tax obligations.