RETAIL

The Apple Store in Grand Central enjoyed its grand opening Friday. While the 23,000 square-foot store is large enough to accommodate the mobs, the company has other ways to keep crowds at bay.

Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry have turned down invitations to Donald Trump's much-hyped Republican debate, leaving The Donald with just two attendees: Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum.

Online retailer Amazon, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is expected to release a higher-end 7-inch Kindle Fire in the second quarter of 2012... one that could come with improved touch capabilities.

Nokia, on Thursday, released its first software update for its Lumia 800 smartphone, which is the fruit of its partnership with Microsoft, whose Windows Phone 7 operating system powers the device.

Consumers spent a record $1.25 billion on Cyber Monday, according to comScore, highlighting how much people love shopping online.

According to a preliminary projection from the IHS iSuppli Display Materials & Systems Service, from information and analysis provider IHS (NYSE: IHS), Amazon's tablet grew past the 4.8 percent held by Samsung and will now be second only Apple's mammoth 65.6 percent.

Luxury goods conglomerate, LVMH is believed to be planning for a £300 million investment on three stores on one of the most expensive shopping areas in London.

UPA government led by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seems to be in trouble after failing to implement its retail reform.

Asian shares, commodities and the euro fell Friday on growing doubts that European leaders could forge a credible plan to solve the euro zone's debt crisis at a summit later in the day.

Real estate developer Forest City Enterprises reported a net loss of $41.9 million, or 25 cents per share, in the third quarter ending Oct. 31, down from $50.6 million, or 33 cents per share, loss in 2010.

Overstock.com and Barnes & Noble are working as partners to help sell books through the Nook Store. The partnership can help Barnes & Noble compensate for the company's poor physical book sales.

IBM, the No. 2 computer giant, said it plans to acquire e-commerce specialist DemandTec for $440 million to beef up its retail and marketing software services.

The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market gainers are: Affymax, G-III Apparel Group, Central European Distribution, BioSante Pharmaceuticals, and Amgen. The top pre-market NASDAQ stock market losers are: Tesla Motors, Clearwire, Aixtron, ASM International, and Crosstex Energy.

The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market gainers are: G-III Apparel Group, Central European Distribution, JetBlue Airways, Broadcom, and Seagate Technology. The top after-market NASDAQ Stock Market losers are: Clearwire, GTX, American Public Education, Western Liberty Bancorp, and China Medical Technologies.

The United States is looking into allegations that the electronic book industry has violated antitrust law, a top Justice Department official said on Wednesday.

J.C. Penney Co. is buying a 16.6 percent stake in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc., a move by chief executive officer Ron Johnson that he hopes will build up the company's line of brands while also bringing up sluggish sales.

Apple lost its iPad trademark battle in China on Wednesday, but the owner of the trademark, Proview Technology, may ask Apple to pay for a trademark transfer.

J.C. Penney Co Inc took a stake in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc and plans to open Martha Stewart shops within its stores, in the first big deal announced by its new chief executive as he tries to turn the department store chain around.

Now is not the time for experimental business models, which means now is the time to consider JC Penney (JCP), according to one stock reviewer.

J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N) bought a 16.6 percent stake in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc (MSO.N) and will build mini-stores under that brand in a deal new Chief Executive Officer Ron Johnson called a key centerpiece in the company's transformation.

India has retracted its plan to allow foreign retail chains like Wal-Mart and Britain's Tesco to open in the country, according to multiple reports. The reversal comes less than two weeks after the global business sector and the Indian government heaped praise on the original deal to let foreign retailers into India to jolt the country's economy and lower prices for farmers and consumers.