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Amazon.com Inc blew past analysts' profit estimates in its closely watched holiday quarter and forecast revenue for early 2010 that topped already-high Wall Street expectations.

Amazon.com Inc blew past analysts' profit estimates in its closely watched holiday quarter and forecast revenue for early 2010 that topped already-high Wall Street expectations.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc is consolidating some U.S. operations and dividing the country into three regions under separate presidents to increase efficiency at more than 3,700 domestic stores.

Home Depot Inc, the world's largest home improvement chain, is laying off about 1,000 employees, according to an internal memo obtained by Reuters, two days after warehouse club store Sam's Club said it would cut more than 11,000 jobs.

Financial and basic materials stocks closed lower on Tuesday, sending the S&P 500 Index, Nasdaq Composite Index, and Dow Jones Industrial Average into negative territory after posting gains earlier in the day.

U.S. retail sales should rise 2.5 percent this year, signaling that store chains have made it through the worst of the downturn as improvements in the housing and job markets bolster shoppers' confidence, a trade group forecast on Tuesday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average managed to gain 27.36 points, or 0.27 percent at 11:10 a.m. ET, as several of its components made big gains. The stocks that lifted the index into positive territory include Travelers (NYSE:TRV), Alcoa (NYSE:AA), Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), and American Express (NYSE:AXP).

U.S. retail sales should rise 2.5 percent this year, signaling that store chains have made it through the worst of the downturn as improvements in the housing and job markets bolster shoppers' confidence, a trade group forecast on Tuesday.

Sam's Club, the warehouse club division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc is cutting roughly 11,200 jobs, or about 10 percent of its workforce, as it outsources in-store product demonstrations and eliminates positions used to recruit new business members.

Sam's Club, the warehouse club division of Wal-Mart Stores Inc is cutting roughly 11,200 jobs, or about 10 percent of its workforce, as it outsources in-store product demonstrations and eliminates positions used to recruit new business members.

Share buybacks by U.S. corporations could be back in style this year as an improving economy makes companies more willing to loosen their purse strings to fund transactions that could reward investors with a higher share price.

Walgreen should emerge from the downturn in an even stronger position, the company told investors at its annual meeting on Wednesday.

GameStop Corp said on Thursday holiday sales failed to improve from 2008, and cut its fourth-quarter profit forecast, sending shares of the biggest U.S. videogame retailer to a 13-month low.

Family Dollar Stores Inc reported a higher-than-expected first-quarter profit and forecast earnings that should top Wall Street estimates again this quarter, sending its shares up 13 percent.

Family Dollar Stores Inc reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and said earnings should top forecasts again this quarter as the discount chain lures more shoppers and improves margins, sending its shares up 8.4 percent.

Move over Italian dinnerware and Chinese accent armchairs. Target Corp is making room in its stores for bulk-size packages of toilet paper to lure post-holiday shoppers.

Investors looking to cash in on a U.S. retail comeback will need to be as selective as the shoppers who scoured stores and websites for the best deals this holiday season.

Holiday season sales improved this year after an abysmal 2008, but early data appears unlikely to spell out a rebound in U.S. consumer spending.

U.S. retailers performed better during the holiday shopping season this year than in historically dismal 2008, in line with lowered expectations, according to data released on Monday.

U.S. retailers performed better during the key holiday shopping season this year after a historically dismal 2008, performing in line with dampened expectations, according to data released on Monday.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc will continue its holiday discounts and deals into the week after Christmas, the world's largest retailer said on Wednesday, as it introduces new deals and extends some old ones.