Today’s Business Beat – Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014

Shops mix it up over ‘Chicago Mix’

A snack shop in St. Paul, Minnesota, has sued Garrett Popcorn Shops and two other companies over the use of the name “Chicago Mix.”

Peet’s opens on Michigan Ave., plans 16 stores here

Peet’s Coffee & Tea plans to open 16 stores in the Chicago area by the end of year, making this area one of the company’s biggest markets outside California.

Boeing shares dip on 2 analysts’ downgrades

Shares of Chicago-based Boeing Co. slipped Tuesday after two analysts downgraded their outlook for the aircraft maker’s stock. An “underperform” rating by The Buckingham Research Group is the first such rating for Boeing’s stock since 2009.

Arthur Andersen name being revived

The Arthur Andersen name is being revived more than a decade after the auditing firm was crushed in the fallout from the Enron Corp. accounting scandal.

ADM sells chocolate business to Cargill

Archer Daniels Midland Co. has agreed to sell its global chocolate business to Cargill for $440 million.

Netflix unveils new way to share recommendations

Netflix is giving its Internet video subscribers a more discreet way to recommend movies and TV shows to their Facebook friends after realizing most people don’t want share their viewing habits with large audiences.

McDonald’s to increase audits of suppliers in China

McDonald’s Corp. plans to increase audits, including video monitoring, of its suppliers in China after a food scandal in July hurt its sales there.

Home Depot investigates breach

Home Depot is investigating a potential credit card data breach. The Atlanta home-improvement retailer told The Associated Press Tuesday that it’s looking into “unusual activity” and that it’s working with both banks and law enforcement.

US manufacturing grows at fastest pace in 3½ years

U.S. manufacturing grew in August at the strongest pace in more than three years as factories cranked out more goods and new orders rose.

Thoma Bravo to buy Compuware for $2.5B

Private equity firm Thoma Bravo is spending about $2.5 billion to buy Compuware and take the software developer private.

Halliburton reaches $1.1B oil spill settlement

Halliburton says it has agreed to pay $1.1 billion to settle a substantial portion of plaintiff claims arising from the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

US home prices rose at slower pace in July

U.S. home prices rose in July but at a slower rate compared with earlier this year. The moderating price increases could help support sales.

1-800-FLOWERS buying Harry & David for $142.5M

1-800-FLOWERS.COM Inc. is buying Harry & David for $142.5 million to help broaden the assortment of foods that its customers can choose as gifts.

Norwegian sails into luxury with Prestige purchase

Norwegian Cruise Line is sailing into the luxury sector, spending about $3 billion in cash and stock to acquire the high-end Prestige Cruises International.

Dollar General raises Family Dollar bid to $9.1B

Dollar General upped its bid for the rival Family Dollar chain and addressed an earlier roadblock, saying it will more than double the number of stores it would shed to tamp down the antitrust concerns of its takeover target. The newest bid is worth $9.1 billion.

Court halts ridesharing service Uber in Germany

A court has issued an injunction barring ridesharing service Uber from operating in Germany, the latest shot in a fight with the country’s taxi drivers.