Consumer Products & Retail
UPDATE 2-Regis profit falls after weak holiday season
NEW YORK, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Hair salon operator Regis Corp said on Tuesday that quarterly profit fell to the low end of its forecast range on a sharp drop in consumer spending over the holiday season. Full Article
UPDATE 1-Wal-Mart says percentage of uninsured workers down
NEW YORK, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc , the world's largest retailer, said on Tuesday that the number of its workers without health insurance has fallen over the last year, helped by new plans. Full Article
UPDATE 1-PetSmart cuts forecast on weak sales
ATLANTA, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Retailer PetSmart Inc cut its quarterly profit outlook on Tuesday, citing weak sales for part of November and much of December 2007, sending its shares down about 7 percent in extended trading. Full Article
Sears shares soar on company shuffle
ATLANTA (Reuters) - Retailer Sears Holdings Corp , looking to turn around its business after recent profit declines, detailed on Tuesday a new structure that separates its business units and simplifies the way they are managed, and its shares shot up as much as 19 percent. Full Article
EBay CEO Whitman preparing to retire: report
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - EBay Inc Chief Executive Meg Whitman, one of the most powerful women in business, is preparing to retire from the online auctioneer, The Wall Street Journal said on Tuesday. Full Article
Etam warns on yearly earnings after weak Q4
PARIS, Jan 22 (Reuters) - French lingerie and womenswear retailer Etam Developpement said on Tuesday full-year 2007 operating profit would fall after it reported a weak end to the year in its French and Chinese businesses. Full Article
Imperial Tobacco says has 93.5 percent of Altadis
MADRID (Reuters) - Imperial Tobacco said on Tuesday it now holds 93.5 percent of Franco-Spanish cigarette maker Altadis after it launched a 50-euros-a-share cash bid last year worth 12.6 billion euros ($18.2 billion). Full Article
UPDATE 1-Tesco plans to open department-style stores
LONDON, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Britain's largest retailer Tesco has plans to open stores over multiple levels in city centres, a spokeswoman said Tuesday, revealing a new threat to store owners Marks and Spencer and Debenhams . Full Article
Schuitema open to mergers after Ahold sale
AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Dutch supermarkets group Schuitema is open to merger offers once majority owner Ahold sells its stake to CVC Capital Partners, its chief executive said on Tuesday. Full Article
UPDATE 1-Sodexho may raise dividend if shares stay low
PARIS, Jan 22 (Reuters) - French contract catering and services group Sodexho Alliance said on Tuesday a recent drop in its share price was not justified and it would raise its dividend if there was no recovery. Full Article
Asia stocks drop with yen surging
Oct 6 - Asian stocks dropped by around 5 percent on Monday. Play Video
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Stimulus may help retailers, but buyers beware
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Talk in Washington of economic stimulus helped boost retail stocks this week, but those stocks could turn south if consumers do not spend the money they get. Full Article
