CEO Erik Nordstrom said customers responded positively to the offerings at the Nordstrom and Rack banners in the fourth quarter.

Nordstrom Inc.’s stock was flat early Tuesday after the department-store chain posted better-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings and said it’s on track with a plan to go private later this year. “Customers responded positively to the strength of our offering across both banners in the fourth quarter,

Starbucks is replacing its top finance executive, plucking Cathy Smith from the Nordstrom department-store chain, as the coffee group embarks on a turnaround.Smith will take over as CFO in the next month,

The global coffee chain is facing growing competition overseas, labor issues in the U.S. and dropping consumer sentiment globally — an issue it has addressed with its Back to Starbucks campaign.