Big tech companies have an affordable housing problem

Jan 17, 2019
Microsoft is the latest tech giant to fund affordable housing projects in the white-hot real estate market where they are based. As part of a community building initiative in Seattle, Microsoft is pledging $475 million in low-interest loans to support housing construction projects over three years, with another $25 million marked for homelessness. There has […]

Netflix, by the numbers

Jan 17, 2019
A look at the streaming service and its insatiable appetite for original content.
JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP/Getty Images

Ex-CEO bids more than $5 billion to keep Sears open

Jan 16, 2019
Most of the bankrupt retailer's creditors want it liquidated, but not former CEO Eddie Lampert.

The partial government shutdown makes business nostalgic for bureaucracy

Jan 16, 2019
With the partial government shutdown hurtling toward the one-month mark, companies are starting to long for a little old-fashioned government bureaucracy. Because while it may slow things down, without it, it’s pretty hard to get anything done. Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

A Montana mall gets another chance

Jan 16, 2019
After years of watching department stores fall, a mall turns to the mixed-use concept.
“If there's one thing that retailers do, it's that we adapt," said Butte Plaza Mall manager Alana Ferko. “If you don't adapt, you'll go the way of the dinosaur."
Oli Scarff/Getty Images

Netflix hikes prices as it invests in more original content

Jan 15, 2019
Netflix is raising its prices on all streaming plans in the United States for new and existing customers. The most popular streaming option will be about $13, up from $11. The last time we saw a price hike, CEO Reed Hastings said incremental increases are needed to cover massive investment in creating original content. “Price […]

Hedge funds set their sights on local newspapers

Jan 15, 2019
A fund has offered $1.3 billion for Gannett, publisher of USA Today. Critics say beware.

For public good, not for profit.

Direct listings bypass traditional IPO process

Jan 14, 2019
Slack hopes it can repeat the success of Spotify's unusual public offering.
When Spotify went public last spring, it scrapped the traditional IPO process and began directly trading existing shares.
Bryan R. Smith/AFP/Getty Images

Amazon seeks more eyeballs with free streaming service

Jan 14, 2019
Amazon has no shortage of Prime Video viewers. But it’s launching a new, free streaming service on its IMDB subsidiary that’s entirely ad supported. Click the audio player above to hear the full story.

Confusion reigns for some businesses over "pass-through" deduction

Jan 14, 2019
Some companies are unsure whether a 20 percent income deduction applies to them.
Under the new tax law, LLCs and S corporations pay taxes based on their owner’s personal income instead of the corporate tax rate.
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