WHOLESALE CLUBS
BJ’s going back to the public markets
BJ’s Wholesale Club is heading back to the public markets. The Westborough-based retailer filed plans with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday to issue stock to the public. The company highlighted the improvements it has made under CEO Chris Baldwin during the past two years. BJ’s now operates 215 warehouse clubs across 16 states, primarily along the East Coast, and employs more than 26,000 full- and part-time workers. The company reported $12.8 billion in revenues last year, slightly more than in 2016. Annual net income, meanwhile, rose 14 percent to $50.3 million. BJ’s had previously been publicly traded until private equity firms Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners reached a deal to buy the retailer in 2011 for about $2.8 billion. — JON CHESTO
TRADE
EU calls for an end to Trump’s tariff threats
The European Union is calling for an end to President Trump’s threats to slap tariffs on EU steel exports as a new deadline looms for the duties to enter force. French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that ‘‘it’s Europe’s economic sovereignty, and what we are demanding is that we are exempted without conditions or time limits.’’ In March, Trump slapped tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on imported aluminum, but has granted the EU a temporary exemption until June 1. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
MEDIA
Fox News names a female CEO closely tied to the old regime
The Murdochs named Suzanne Scott the new chief executive of Fox News on Thursday, making her the first woman to lead the cable news network even as her appointment marked the elevation of an executive closely tied with the old regime that was largely ousted in the wake of a sexual harassment scandal. Scott, who joined Fox News at its inception in 1996, rose through the ranks over the years to work in several programming, production, and creative positions. Last year, she was appointed president of programming and development amid an executive shake-up that followed the firing of the network’s founding chairman Roger Ailes. In her new role, Scott will oversee both Fox News and its sister network Fox Business. She will report to Rupert Murdoch and his son Lachlan Murdoch, the top executives at 21st Century Fox who also will run the “proposed new Fox,’’ the slimmed down media conglomerate focused on news and sports that will remain after the proposed sale of most of 21st Century’s entertainment assets to the Walt Disney Co. The appointment makes Scott the only woman in charge of a major cable news network or broadcast news division. The post of chief executive, previously held by Ailes, had been vacant since his departure. The appointment amounts to a Murdoch vote for the status quo at Fox News, which has weathered the exits of Ailes and several leading personalities — including its top-rated star, Bill O’Reilly — and come out where it started: No. 1. Fox News remains above its rivals CNN and MSNBC in the ratings and is routinely the most-watched channel on all of basic cable. — NEW YORK TIMES
AUTOMOTIVE
Ford resuming production of F-150 pickups
Ford is resuming production of its F-150 pickup following a fire at a plant where parts for the vehicle are made. The automaker said on Wednesday that work will restart Friday at the Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan. Production of Ford’s Super Duty at its Louisville truck plant and the F-150 at its Kansas City, Mo., assembly plant are targeted to resume by Monday. A May 2 fire severely damaged the main plant at the Meridian Magnesium Products of America factory in Eaton Rapids, Mich., near Lansing. The plant makes structural parts with about one-third going to Ford. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
PAYMENT PLATFORMS
PayPal buys Swedish company for $2.2b
PayPal Holdings Inc. is buying Swedish small-business platform iZettle for $2.2 billion to expand in Europe and Latin America and increase its presence in brick and mortar stores. The deal is the biggest ever for San Jose, Calif.-based PayPal and will help it compete with Square Inc., which made a name for itself by helping small businesses and food-truck vendors conduct credit card and mobile transactions. Founded in 2010 by Jacob de Geer and Magnus Nilsson, iZettle also started out with a mobile-phone gadget for accepting credit card payments. It has since expanded into software and financing services to support small businesses. — BLOOMBERG NEWS
PAY EQUITY
Seven female law professors receive $2.6m in gender pay case
Seven female law professors at a Colorado university will receive a $2.6 million settlement and pay increases after federal officials filed a lawsuit against the women’s employer for routinely paying higher salaries to their male colleagues. A federal judge indicated support for the settlement agreement Thursday between the University of Denver, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the professors. Colorado District Court Judge Wiley Daniel requested some technical changes during a hearing but said he had no other objection to signing it. In a statement, university officials said they were ‘‘confident in our legal position’’ but ‘‘were motivated to action by our strong desire to heal our community and move forward together.’’ The statement also said fair, equitable and merit-based pay for faculty and staff is among the university’s ‘‘cornerstone commitments.’’ — ASSOCIATED PRESS
INTERNATIONAL
Royal wedding to pour as much as $108m into British economy
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding this weekend is looking to be a very profitable time for many small businesses in Britain. Some agencies are estimating that the event could contribute as much as $108 million to the British economy. Airbnb is expecting more than 42,000 guest arrivals in the Windsor area, where the wedding will be held, with many residents clearing out and cashing in. Pubs are being allowed to stay open later. High Street retailers are offering everything from $16 tea towels to a $20 version of Markle’s engagement ring. Supermarkets are expecting to ring up sales from all those hungry Britons watching the event from home or at street parties. — WASHINGTON POST
MORTGAGES
Rates at their highest level in seven years
Long-term mortgage rates jumped this week, marking their highest levels in seven years amid the peak home buying season. The benchmark 30-year rate pushed toward the significant 5 percent level. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday the average rate on 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages was 4.61 percent, up from 4.55 percent last week. The new average rate was the highest since May 19, 2011. By contrast, the 30-year rate averaged 4.02 percent a year ago. The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate loans climbed to 4.08 percent from 4.01 percent last week. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
INTERNATIONAL
Eighteen suspects in massive diamond heist acquitted
A court has acquitted for lack of evidence 18 suspects accused of being involved in a massive 2013 diamond heist at Brussels Airport when tens of millions worth of gems were stolen from the hold of a departing Swiss-bound plane. One other person, suspected of being the mastermind, will hear his case in court later. Defense lawyer Nathalie Gallant said the ‘‘acquittal is the proof that prosecution failed to bring evidence on the involvement of each of the accused, and there were a lot of them.’’ The heist was estimated at $50 million at the time and was one of the biggest of recent times. It stunned the world with its clockwork precision of breaking into the high-security airport runway, driving up to the plane and, flashing guns, grabbing the diamonds. — ASSOCIATED PRESS
