en-us Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:15:38 -0800 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:37:56 -0800 KSS KSS Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:34:00 -0800 F F Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:24:00 -0800 Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:30:04 -0800 Reuters) - Closeout retailer Big Lots Inc BIG reported better-than-expected quarterly profit, as initial markups and lower freight costs boosted gross margins, and raised its outlook for the holiday fourth quarter.The retailer, which specializes in sales of excess inventory from home appliances to toys, saw gross margin rates rise 60...]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:00:46 -0800 BIG UPS BIG,UPS Reuters UK) - Autumn selling boosted housebuilders Berkeley Group BKGH and Bellway BWY, but uncertainties such as a looming general election, unemployment and mortgage shortages are curbing enthusiasm."We've got a situation of imbalance at the moment. Until we get the feel-good factor and we see mortgages back,...]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:15:47 -0800 BWY BWY Reuters UK) - New car sales in Britain leapt an annual 57.6 percent in November, their biggest rise this year as buyers took advantage of a government incentive scheme and a temporary cut in sales tax.The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said the scrappage scheme accounted for more...]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 03:15:25 -0800 Reuters UK) - Housebuilder Bellway BWY said it was on course for a 10 percent increase in its half-year sales, but warned that a dearth of mortgage finance continues to hobble the housing market.Bellway's sales for the four months to November 30 averaged 91 a week, up 51 percent...]]> Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:30:31 -0800 BWY BWY Reuters UK) - Housebuilder Berkeley Group BKGH posted half-year results down over a third on Friday, impacted by a lower number of transactions and a drop in selling prices.The London-based developer and builder posted a pretax profit in the six months to end October down 35 percent to 52.0...]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:30:23 -0800 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:01:10 -0800 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:00:00 -0800 GMGMQ SAI GMGMQ,SAI Thu, 03 Dec 2009 15:37:51 -0800 SI SI Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:43:00 -0800 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 13:50:00 -0800 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:45:00 -0800 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 09:04:23 -0800 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:24:12 -0800 Reuters) - Several U.S. retailers posted weaker-than-expected sales for November, getting the key holiday season off to a sluggish start as consumers worried about the economy and double-digit unemployment.Eight of the 11 retailers that reported by early Thursday missed estimates, including Costco Wholesale Corp COST, Children's Place...]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2009 05:01:56 -0800 ARO AMZN BBY PLCE COST HOTT LTD PIR WMT WAG ARO,AMZN,BBY,PLCE,COST,HOTT,LTD,PIR,WMT,WAG Reuters UK) - Kingfisher, Europe's biggest home improvement retailer, beat forecasts with a 28 percent rise in third-quarter profit and a further cut in debt, helped by better market conditions and cost cutting.But the British group, which runs market leaders B&Q in Britain and Castorama in France,...]]> Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:15:26 -0800