Ikea launches furniture with built-in wireless chargers
Swedish retailer Ikea is launching a line of furniture with built-in charging spots, including in bedside tables, lamps and desks.
PayPal to acquire mobile wallet provider Paydiant
EBay’s PayPal payment unit is acquiring mobile wallet operator Paydiant ahead of PayPal’s spinoff as the mobile payment sector heats up.
Nasdaq closes above 5,000 for first time in 15 years
It was only the third time the index has closed above 5,000 in its 44-year history. The other two were March 10, 2000, when it closed at a record high of 5,048, and the day before.
Women’s fashion brand Courage B to open Lake Forest boutique
Entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis is bring a Courage B boutique to Lake Forest in late April.
Dover completes sale of unit to Honeywell
Downers Grove-based Dover Corp. announced Monday it has completed the $185 million sale of its Datamax O’Neil unit to Honeywell.
Berghoff rolls out Rockin’ Bock
Berghoff Brewery has released its newest spring season beer. Rockin’ Bock combines the hefeweizen and maibock styles.
Chicago is becoming a hub of connected-car technology
Luxury carmaker BMW’s purchase last fall of a small software-development group in the West Loop is another sign that Chicago is becoming a center of connected-car technology. [Crain’s]
McDonald’s new chief plots counter attack
New chief executive Steve Easterbrook has set expectations high for change at the world’s biggest restaurant chain. Now he’ll have to deliver. [The Wall Street Journal]
Google to offer own cellular network plan
The leading Internet search engine and mobile software provider, is working with unnamed network operators on developing a cellular plan.
Hewlett-Packard buys Aruba Network in $2.7 billion deal
Hewlett-Packard is buying wireless networking company Aruba Networks for about $2.7 billion, the biggest acquisition by HP in recent years.
Cardinal Health offers $1.94B for Johnson & Johnson unit
Cardinal Health is offering to buy a unit of Johnson & Johnson that makes heart devices for about $1.94 billion.
Costco strike credit card deal with Citi, Visa
Costco says it struck a deal for Citi to be the exclusive issuer of its co-branded credit cards, with Visa replacing American Express as the card network.
Bill Gates repeats at top of Forbes’ billionaires list
The world’s richest person got even richer this year. Forbes says that Bill Gates’s net worth rose to $79.2 billion in 2015 from $76 billion last year.