Today’s Business Beat – Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2014

Ready for McBrunch?

Is McDonald’s ready to stretch its breakfast hours a little later? The Oak Brook fast-food chain has applied to trademark “McBrunch,” a word that would apply to a time of day that runs later than 10:30 a.m.

Sears’ future questioned by Fitch

Credit-rating agency Fitch Ratings on Wednesday downgraded Sears Holdings, citing the retailer’s declining profits and negative cash flow. Fitch says Sears’ funding options might not be enough to keep the company going 2016.

Baxter names spinoff Baxalta

Baxter International Inc. has picked the name Baxalta Inc. for the biopharmaceutical company it expects to spin off into a separate company next year.

American Airlines flight attendants leave paper manuals behind

American Airlines flight attendants now carry tablet computers instead of the 5 pound paper manuals. The airline says the change will save $300,000 a year in printing and shipping costs and possibly $650,000 a year in fuel costs.

Cost of employer-sponsored health care rose 3 percent this year

The average annual premium for employer-sponsored family heath coverage rose 3 percent to to $16,834 this year, continuing its moderate climb higher. Employees’ share of the cost averaged $4,823 this year.

Spire developer cleared to seek new investors: report

Chicago Spire developer Garrett Kelleher received bankruptcy court permission Wednesday to talk with other potential investors about reviving the project.

Indoor skydiving planned for Near North Side

IFly Holdings LLC wants to build an indoor skydiving center near the former Cabrini-Green public housing high-rises.

Inland Real Estate first member of Chicago Realtors Corporate Hall of Fame

The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc. will be the first member of the Chicago Association of Realtors Corporate Hall of Fame.

Trump Entertainment gets interim operating cash

A Delaware bankruptcy judge is allowing Trump Entertainment Resorts, which owns two Atlantic City casinos, to continue operations. For now.

Home Depot stock dips on data breach fallout

Shares of Home Depot were under pressure Wednesday as the home improvement retailer contends with the fallout of a data breach at its more than 2,000 U.S. and Canadian stores.

Lands’ End profit rises 4.9% in second quarter

Lands’ End Inc. reported net income increased 4.9 percent to $11.8 million in its fiscal second quarter. The clothing retailer was spun off from Sears Holdings Corp. in April.

Chiquita to talk with potential buyers

Not even a month after flatly rejecting a takeover bid by two Brazilian companies, Chiquita softened its stance and will open its books to investment firm Safra Group and Cutrale Group, a juice company. The move calls into question Chiquita’s pending merger with Irish fruit company Fyffes.

Google invests in California solar power plant

Internet search company Google is providing $145 million in financing to help SunEdison convert a one-time oil field into a solar power plant north of Los Angeles.

China’s premier promises more open economy

China’s premier promised Wednesday to open the world’s No. 2 economy wider to foreign companies, promising favorable conditions despite a wave of anti-monopoly investigations that business groups say might be aimed at limiting competition.

Dollar General goes hostile in bid for rival

Dollar General is going hostile with its $9.1 billion bid for Family Dollar after its rival repeatedly rejected previous offers. The discount chain has commenced an open offering to investors of Family Stores Dollar Inc.