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U.S. job cuts dropped 13 percent from the same month a year ago. Yet, with still one month remaining in 2011, the 11-month total of 564,297 has already officially surpassed the 497,969 people employers let go in the past year.

Wells Fargo Securities said there are still many signs that California's labor market remains deeply ill, despite the better job creation performance this year.

A November note from the Conference Board placed consumer confidence in the U.S. at a four-month high of 56.0, from a low of 40.9 in July. Most startlingly, however, the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) soared to its largest month-over-month percentage gain since April, 2009 and its largest single points gain since April, 2003.

Barclays Capital said its checks indicate that sales over Black Friday and Cyber Monday were quite solid for Apple Inc., largely in line with its expectations.

Banks' contribution to the economy may be hugely overstated, underscoring anger about the scale of taxpayer rescues and resultant government cutbacks, but a sharp retreat of banking worldwide looks painful for all and needs calibrating.

Following the widely acclaimed and successful collaboration with design house Versace, Swedish retail brand H&M has announced a second similar partnership with Italy-based fashion label Marni.

Most retailers lured shoppers to their online and brick-and-mortar stores this Black Friday and Cyber Monday with ads promising deals that were too good to pass up. Outerwear retailer Patagonia, however, effectively tried to do the opposite.

Cyber Monday online sales set a record, led by department stores and home goods retailers, according to U.S. data released on Tuesday.

Google Maps has been helping people find the nearest train station or Starbucks for several years. Now, it can help you find the nearest restroom at an airport or the men's department at Macy's.

The Malkin family, the New York landlords who own the Empire State Building, plan to file to become a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) in around three months, it said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Cyber Monday online sales jumped to a record, led by department stores and home goods retailers, according to U.S. data released on Tuesday.

Goldman Sachs picks its top nine technology stocks for 2012.

For Apple customers the disappointment of getting an iPhone 4S instead of a 5 was much like ripping off a Band Aid. The announcement came (on time) it was quick, painful and then people got over it. Verizon Galaxy Nexus fans; however, have taken one blow after another and still no official announcements have been made about the phone's release, which is causing loyal customers to look elsewhere.

Adrienne Maloof from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills and Palms Resort & Casino mogul has just launched her very own shoe line with French designer Charles Jourdan.

Online retail sales on Cyber Monday 2011 hit record highs and jumped 33 percent compared to the same day last year, according to a report from IBM Coremetrics.

Canada's holiday shopping season has started with a bang, an industry group said on Monday, as more retailers than ever offered Black Friday promotions to keep up with competitors south of the border.

New York's Black Friday Tops $1B

Retailers reported strong sales last week as shoppers took advantage of discounts and longer store hours for the start of the holiday shopping season.

British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello has told fans not to buy a pricey limited edition box set of his music on sale next month, recommending they purchase some Louis Armstrong instead.

Susquehanna Financial has revised its profit and revenue estimates of software major Infosys Ltd. (NASDAQ:INFY), following a statement from S.D. Shibulal, its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) that the demand environment, which started to deteriorate 45 days ago, has yet to recover.

Pfizer Inc. will see the end of a hugely lucrative era on Wednesday, Nov. 30, when its two-decade old patent for Lipitor, a hugely popular drug for cholesterol management, expires.