Retail & Consumer

Far from the lap of luxury
Consumers turning increasingly cautious amid macroeconomic deterioration on a global scale leave Tiffany in the lurch. Forecast's cut as holiday sales drop 21%.
• As shoppers eschew pricey leather goods, Coach warns of profit shortfall

U.S. General Retailers Index



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Walgreen tightens headcount
Turnaround-minded pharmacy chain to offer voluntary separation packages with the aim of eliminating 1,000 corporate positions.

Family Dollar's time to shine
Consumers eager to pinch pennies trade down to deep discounter, whose quarterly profit shows surprisingly strong 14% growth.

Chapter 11 in Gottschalks' future
Regional department-store retailer's lined up debtor-in-possession financing, foresees business as usual as it reorganizes.

Liz Claiborne makes progress on credit front
But apparel retailer also falls prey to tight-fisted consumers, now sees breaking even at best for the fourth quarter.

Electronics aren't flying off Best Buy's shelves
With its closest competitor in bankruptcy, you might think Best Buy would have an easier time of it persuading consumers to buy its product line. Think again.

HOLIDAY SALES | U.S. data document just how dismal December was
Dreary December for retailers
For most retailers, the combination of an economy in recession, job-cut jitters and consumers lacking confidence translated into shortfalls for same-store sales during pivotal holiday season.
• Wal-Mart's sales come up shy
• Sears Holdings sells profit surprise
• Video-game sales impervious to gloom, GameStop results show
Stocks in focus for Friday
BY MARKETWATCH
Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Friday’s session are Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., and Charles Schwab & Co.

Not that recession-proof: Toys also hit in holiday season
BY MATT ANDREJCZAK
The U.S. toy business gets its first aftershock of the dismal holiday retail season when RC2 Corp. warns its sales and profit for the fourth quarter would fall short of expectations.

HSBC, Barclays drag U.K. stocks to weaker close
BY SARAH TURNER
London shares ended lower Thursday, with investors continuing to punish the two major U.K. banks that haven’t taken government money, HSBC Holdings and Barclays.

Retailers, losing traffic, maximize on those already inside
BY ANDRIA CHENG
If consumers have lost their appetite to shop with store traffic in free-fall, what should a retailer do? That was among the questions being raised at the retail industry's biggest annual event.

Retail shares fall as initial jobless claims rise in latest week
BY ANDRIA CHENG
Retailers’ shares quickly pare early gains, trading lower amid an increase in first-time applications for unemployment benefits last week.

Stocks in focus for Thursday
BY MARKETWATCH
Among the companies whose shares are expected to see active trade in Thursday’s session are Intel Corp., J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., and Genentech Inc.

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