U.S. stocks edge higher ahead of Facebook IPO

Excitement about Facebook’s initial public offering gave U.S. stocks a small lift in morning trading on Friday.

Your laptop could come under attack at NATO, experts warn

If you’re downtown during the Chicago NATO Summit, security experts say your laptop and smartphone may be targeted by attackers or borrowed by free-loaders.

Facebook offering soars on cash-out

Facebook’s dizzying IPO continued to scale stratospheric heights Wednesday, when the social-networking giant again revised its offering so it may raise up to $18.4 billion.

Stocks lower as Europe overshadows jobs data

Stocks are slipping as unease about Europe overshadows an encouraging report on unemployment claims and good results from big retailers including Wal-Mart Stores.

U.S. unemployment aid applications stay at 370,000

The number of people seeking U.S. unemployment benefits was unchanged last week, suggesting modest but steady gains in the job market.

As Facebook grows, millions say, ‘no, thanks’

Don’t try to friend MaLi Arwood on Facebook. You won’t find her there. You won’t find Thomas Chin, either. Or Kariann Goldschmitt. Or Jake Edelstein. More than 900 million people worldwide check their Facebook accounts at least once a month, but millions more are Facebook holdouts.

Revised bank plan could save Geneva’s Pure Oil building

GENEVA — The 1930s-era Pure Oil Co. service station is closer to being converted for bank teller drive-through lanes.

On Tuesday, the Historic Preservation Commission unanimously approved new plans that would convert the former gas station’s three service bays for use as drive-up service lanes, …

Kane Board considers lowering road impact fee

Kane County officials have a question for local municipalities regarding their road impact fees: they want to know what they charge developers, and how the charge affected growth.

County officials renewed their road impact fee ordinance for a five-year basis recently, but they are given …

Dow Jones average continues a two-week slide

Europe’s latest political impasse cast a gloom over financial markets Tuesday. The euro plunged, and the Dow Jones industrial average extended a slide that has wiped out nearly 5 percent of its value in two weeks. The markets meandered between gains and losses for much of the day, then turned decisively lower in the last hour of trading.

Many employers plan a typical day at the office during NATO Summit

For some it’s an opportunity to work from home in their PJs. For others, it will translate into free lunch and paid time off. For many, it’s still a question whether they’ll work in the office or at home during the NATO summit. But most employers contacted by the Chicago Sun-Times said their workers can expect a typical day at the office, despite transportation headaches, protesters and stepped-up security.

Groupon, Facebook carry risks, say analysts

The buzz surrounding Groupon and the frenzy over Facebook grow as they promise to change the face of Internet commerce. Yet, even after the share price’s bounce on its earnings, some analysts point to warning signals that should temper the growing exuberance both are enjoying.

Zuckerberg’s birthday kicks off Facebook’s biggest week ever

Facebook’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg turns 28 on Monday, setting in motion the social network’s biggest week ever. The company is expected to start selling stock to the public for the first time and begin trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market on Friday. The IPO could value Facebook at nearly $100 billion.

Flying cow part of this young artist’s portfolio

St. Charles artist Emily Grelck, 23, is the young artist who created the Flying Cow artwork that hangs in all seven area Colonial Café and Ice Cream restaurants. Grelck, who graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois Chicago with a bachelor of fine …

JPMorgan Chase top exec to retire after $2 billion fiasco

The chief investment officer at JPMorgan Chase, one of the highest-ranking women on Wall Street, will retire, the company said Monday. She becomes the first casualty of the bank’s $2 billion trading blunder.