IBTimes.com : Companies - Retail/Consumer

'Halftime in America' Ad Spoofed, Hammered by 'Saturday Night Live'

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:35:17 EST

As the political discussion continues over Chrysler's popular "Halftime in America" Super Bowl commercial starring Clint Eastwood, Saturday Night Live took the task of spoofing this latest "controversy." Three times.

Gas Prices Rising, So Cars' Fuel Economy Rising, Too: Study

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 18:09:33 EST

The average fuel economy of 2012 model year vehicles is 14 percent higher than the same mark of just four years earlier, according to a University of Michigan study, confirming automakers' push to appeal to consumers' desires for more fuel efficient vehicles.

Global Markets Overview 02/14/2012

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:41:05 EST

Stocks added to gains and hit session highs in afternoon trading, buoyed by the adoption of austerity measures by Greece's Parliament. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was recently ahead 82 points, or 0.6%, at 12884. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index advanced 10 points, or 0.8%, to 1353, and the Nasdaq Composite gained 29 points, or 1%, to 2933.

AT&T Doubles Fee to Upgrade Cellphone, Cites More Sophisticated Devices

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 17:00:55 EST

The Dallas-based company will now charge $36 to upgrade a phone compared to $18 previously.

Apple at $500: Nowhere to Move but Up?

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 15:26:47 EST

Apple made history Monday as shares of the world’s most valuable company exceeded $500 for the first time. They closed at a record $502.60.

Budget Deficit Increases Due to Lower GM Share Values

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 14:14:36 EST

Lower value of the United States government's stock in General Motors Co. and American International Group will dump $21 billion more on the 2013 budget President Barack Obama released on Monday.

Soros: Shale Gas and Oil Prompting Economic Recovery

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:07:42 EST

Billionaire investor George Soros attributed the nation's favorable economic outlook to the nation's shale resources in a weekend interview.

Retail Sales Rose in January: U.S. Economy Preview

Mon, 13 Feb 2012 08:17:04 EST

Sales at U.S. retailers probably climbed in January as Americans bought more new cars and shoppers took advantage of post-holiday promotions, a sign that the U.S. economy is recovering, economists said before a report this week.

Supermarket Battles Move to Fresh Fish Label

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 22:18:59 EST

Another fresh war is brewing between Australia's supermarket giants. From fresh produce, Coles and Woolworths are now battling for the title of being the number one supporter of sustainable fish species.

Global Markets Overview - 02/13/2012

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 17:49:15 EST

Stocks were dragged down for their worst one-day loss in about six weeks by tumult over the Greek bailout, disappointing readings on the U.S. economy and a downgrade of nearly three dozen Italian banks.

Airlines Call for U.N. Deal to Avert Carbon Trade War

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:52:28 EST

Global airlines on Sunday called for a deal brokered by a United Nations agency to avoid an impasse between China and the European Union over jet pollution spilling into a trade war. Airlines are being squeezed between conflicting laws, the head of the International Air Transport Association said.

Annual Toy of the Year Awards: Winners List [PHOTOS]

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 03:07:23 EST

The winners of the 12th annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards were announced on Saturday, at the Toy Industry Hall of Fame Induction ceremony at the Alice Tully Hall in Lincoln Centre, New York.

Pinterest: 5 Things to Know about the New Social-Media Platform

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:27:31 EST

Pinterest recently became one of the top five social networks on the Web in terms of weekly visits. For a quick rundown of all the things you need to know about Pinterest, we've gathered the most pertinent information about the hottest new social-media platform on the Web.

Native Americans: The Tragedy of Alcoholism

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 10:10:44 EST

According the Indian Health Services, the rate of alcoholism among Native Americans is six times the U.S. average.

Walnut Growers Seek to Stop Sales to Diamond Foods Inc.

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 01:14:06 EST

Some California farmers plan to stop selling their walnuts to Diamond Foods Inc. in the wake of an accounting scandal over grower payments that has claimed the jobs of the snack company's CEO and chief financial officer.

Valentine’s Day Special: Pizza Hut's Dinner Box Proposal Package for $10,010

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 00:35:46 EST

Pizza Hut is offering their customer a complete proposal package on Valentine's Day, which not only contains food but all other offers that would make the day special for the love-birds.

Jeremy Lin Drives Knicks Ticket Prices, Demand Sky-High in 'Linsanity'

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 17:30:28 EST

The definition of "Linsanity": a 23 percent rise in average ticket price, a 36 percent ratings increase and a furious rush for new merchandise. That's the effect of blossoming New York Knicks point guard Jeremy Lin, who has burst into the NBA limelight over the past three games and im...

To Zip from IP, Amazon Morphs into Brick-and-Mortar - Report

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:26:22 EST

The constant rumor mill churning around online megalith Amazon.com (AMZN) has offered up a new hatchling, in brick and mortar form. The world's largest online retailer will open a physical store in Seattle, according to Good E-Reader, making it the first major online retailer to jump from an Internet Protocol address to actual zip code.

Bernanke Urges Creditors to Rent Properties, Not Try to Sell Them

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:43:22 EST

The head of the U.S. central bank, in his second public statement on housing policy in as many weeks, told an audience of residential builders Friday that creditors who own vacant homes should consider renting the properties as a way to stanch urban blight.

Nissan Pathfinder 2013: A Look at the Previously Unseen Interior [PHOTOS]

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:29:29 EST

When Nissan first introduced the 2013 version of a revamped Pathfinder in January at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, it was missing, well, an interior.

PepsiCo's Plan Leaves Some Investors Thirsting for More

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:28:06 EST

PepsiCo Inc Chief Executive Indra Nooyi laid out a plan to turn around the company's North American soft drink business that includes ramping up advertising, cutting thousands of jobs and a bigger-than-expected decline in near-term earnings.

Hasbro Adopts Zynga Characters for Toys, Board Games

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:42:06 EST

Hasbro--the multinational toy and board game company that owns brands such as Candyland, Play-Doh, Mr. Potato Head, NERF, Monopoly, Ouiji and more--will be partnering with the leading social media game creator, Zynga, in order to produce new toys.

Jon Huntsman, Former Presidential Candidate, Joins Ford's Board

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:23:05 EST

Ford Motor Co. on Thursday named former 2012 Republican presidential candidate and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman to its board of directors. The appointment gives Huntsman another job as he backs out of the public spotlight back into the private sector. And it gives Ford another established, high-profile board member with political ties.

Google, Amazon Steal Strategy from Apple, Open Brick-and-Mortar Stores

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 15:50:15 EST

The tech giants of Silicon Valley appear to be chasing after Apple's brick-and-mortar sales model: Earlier this week, rumors began to leak about the possibility of an Amazon brick-and-mortar store opening in Seattle. Google has followed up with an announcement of creating a store in Dublin, Ireland.

Kodak Exits Digital Camera Business in Latest Bankruptcy News

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:42:50 EST

Kodak announced Thursday it plans to stop making digital cameras, pocket video cameras and digital picture frames in the first half of 2012 in a bid to cut costs.

Ford's Mulally Amid Executive Changes: No Plans to Retire

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:50:03 EST

Two of Ford Motor Co.'s top executives are set to retire in April, but Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally brushed back speculation of his own retirement plans.

PepsiCo to Cut 8,700 Jobs, Focus More on Marketing

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:43:50 EST

The restructuring was announced despite the soft drink maker posting a 4 percent increase in its net income for the fourth quarter ending December 31.

PepsiCo to Cut 8,700 Jobs; Q4 Profit Rises

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 09:54:02 EST

PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE:PEP), the world's largest snack-food maker plans to cut 8,700 jobs in a restructuring effort to offset high commodity costs and boost investment in advertising and marketing in North America.

China Restrains Apple's iPhone 4S Sales in HK, Mainland

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:15:23 EST

To defuse the ticking retail frenzy of grabbing the latest Apple phone- the iPhone 4S-- Chinese authorities and American-owned Apple Inc. have joined forces to tackle the problem of illegally selling the handset in China's black markets.

Diamond Foods Fires CEO; Stock Crashes

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 22:11:43 EST

Diamond Foods Inc removed top management after a probe by its audit committee found that the company improperly accounted for payments to walnut growers, sending its shares down 40 percent in after-hours trading.

Groupon Disclosure, Growth Concerns Hit Stock

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:14:06 EST

Groupon Inc shares slumped Wednesday as the daily deal company's first quarterly results since it went public stoked concern about limited disclosure and slowing growth.

Australian Stock Market Leads - 02/09/2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:05:42 EST

The Australian stock market is perceived to maintain its current bouyant status thugging within its comfort zone range between 4,200 to 4,300 with the absence of catalysts to bring forth a major boost, analysts said.

Groupon Shares Tumble After First Public Earnings Announcement Falls Well Below Street Expectations

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 18:02:38 EST

Groupon shares fell 12.53 percent to $21.50 as of 5:40 EST after closing up 1.61 percent to $24.58.

Global Markets Overview - 02/09/2012

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 17:42:15 EST

U.S. stocks pared losses to inch higher as investors digested headlines over a Greek debt-restructuring deal that would allow the euro-zone country to avoid a default.

Groupon Reports Quarterly Net Loss; Shares Drop

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:42:07 EST

Groupon Inc reported a quarterly net loss Wednesday as the largest daily deal company recorded higher taxes overseas.

Toyota Highlander Production Will Move to U.S.

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:40:45 EST

Toyota Motor Corp. will add 400 jobs at its Indiana plant to produce the hybrid version of its Highlander sport-utility vehicle, shifting production of the SUV from Japan to the United States.

Clint Eastwood Super Bowl Commercial Team Has Obama Ties: Report

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:21:35 EST

Several members of the production crew of Chrysler Group LLC's "Halftime in America" commercial starring Clint Eastwood also made art in support of President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.

Istanbul Tops European Real Estate Trends Report, Followed by Munich and Warsaw

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 11:33:01 EST

Istanbul was ranked as the European city with the best prospects for 2012 by PricewaterhouseCooper and the Urban Land Institute, with German cities also on top.

Australian Stock Market Leads - 02/08/2012

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 18:12:05 EST

The positive leads from U.S. markets may not impact much on local stocks especially the currency-sensitive ones with the rate pause initiated by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), analysts say.

Yahoo Shakeup: Chairman Out, 3 Other Directors Out

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:46:07 EST

Yahoo, No. 2 in search, shook up its board of directors a month after recruiting new CEO Scott Thompson from eBay’s PayPal unit.

Walmart: Tired of Being Fat? Buy This, Not That

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:41:22 EST

Walmart will begin slapping "Great For You" icons to help consumers identify healthier foods made by its private label brand.

Bush Defends Auto Bailouts Amid Growing Political Debate: 'I'd Do It Again'

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 16:36:14 EST

Former United States President George W. Bush defended the emergency bailout funds his administration provided to General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC in a speech to car dealers Monday, saying he would "do it again.".

Symantec Extorted, VeriSign Hacked: Are the Security Experts Defensible?

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:54:36 EST

Symantec, the owner of Norton Anti-Virus and other security software brands, said someone claiming to be part of Anonymous attempted to extort $50,000 in return for not posting code.

PepsiCo Inc. Earnings Preview: Q4 Boosted By Sales in Emerging Markets

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:53:38 EST

PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE:PEP), the world's largest snack-food maker, is projected to report stronger fourth-quarter profit as PepsiCo continue to capitalize on emerging market growth and proper hedging against commodity price swings.

Rogers, BCE in talks with Apple over iTV: report

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:35:08 EST

Rogers Communications and BCE are in talks to become Canadian launch partners for Apple Inc.'s much-hyped iTV, which promises to turn conventional television sets into giant iPads, a newspaper reported on Tuesday.

Shares of Redbox Parent, Coinstar, Surge on Earnings, NCR Acquisition, Verizon Streaming Deal

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 10:19:25 EST

Shares of the Bellevue, Wash.-based company rose nearly 18 percent to $59.37 in morning trading.

Walmart to Label Healthier Food as "Great For You"

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:26:02 EST

Eggs are among the foods getting a new "Great For You" icon from the world's largest retailer as it tries to convince shoppers that they can make healthy, low-cost choices when picking out food at its U.S. stores.

Australia Construction Declines Further as New Orders Weaken

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 18:46:34 EST

Further drops in activity and new orders saw the national construction industry spend another month in the red according to the latest Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®), in conjunction with the Housing Industry Association. The seasonally adjusted index fell by 1.2 points to 39.

Global Markets Overview - 02/07/2012

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:40:21 EST

U.S. stocks drifted lower as the recent rally paused, with investors shifting focus to wrangling in Greece over fiscal austerity. The Dow Jones Industrial Average eased 38 points, or 0.3%, to 12824 as the last hour of trading approached. The Standard & Poor's 500-stock index lost 2.7 points, or 0.2%, to 1342, and the Nasdaq Composite declined 7.8 points, or 0.3%, to 2898.

Amazon Customers to Pay Sales Tax in Pennsylvania Starting Sept. 1

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:21:58 EST

Amazon.com will begin collecting sales taxes on orders from Pennsylvania in September, on the heels of a California settlement where it agreed to begin collecting sales in the Golden State also beginning September.