Durable Goods Orders Rise Sharply in April
Orders for long-lasting U.S. manufactured goods rose more than expected in April, a sign of resilience in the factory sector.
Consumer Goods
P&G Brings Back Lafley as CEO
Consumer-products giant Procter & Gamble brings back its former CEO, A.G. Lafley, a 33-year industry veteran, who left in 2009.
Hasbro's First-Quarter Loss Widens on Restructuring Charge
Hasbro says its first-quarter loss widened as the toy maker absorbed heavy restructuring charges and foreign exchange rates flattened its international revenue.
Kimberly-Clark Posts Higher Profit on Strong Int'l Growth
Kimberly-Clark posted a bigger-than-expected jump in first-quarter earnings Friday on strong growth in its international markets and cut costs.
Macy's Denied Restraining Order Against J.C. Penney
A judge has rejected Macy's request to slap rival J.C. Penney with a temporary restraining order barring it from selling non-branded goods designed by Martha Stewart.
ConAgra Reports Lower Profit on Acquisition Charges
ConAgra says its third-quarter profit fell shy of expectations on charges related to its acquisition of Ralcorp and lackluster growth in sales of its existing brands.
Hostess Sale OK'd by Court; Twinkies May Be Back by Summer
A bankruptcy judge has approved the sale of Twinkies to a pair of investment firms, one of which has said it hopes to have the cakes back on shelves by summer.
U.S. Consumer Prices Flat in January for 2nd Month
U.S. consumer prices were flat last month, the latest sign inflation is in check. That could give the Federal Reserve leeway to continue its efforts to stimulate growth. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 0.3 percent in January, pushed up by higher costs for apparel, air fares and rents.
Markets Cautious Ahead of Debt Ceiling Vote
Stock markets traded cautiously on Wednesday ahead of a U.S. vote on raising the nation's borrowing limit temporarily. The House is set to vote on a motion to increase the nation's $16.4 trillion borrowing ceiling for three months.
Will P&G Clean Up By Selling Us Soap on Facebook?
Procter & Gamble recently added "Shop Now" buttons to the Facebook fan pages for its of several brands such as Gillette, Olay and Tide. Even if this latest plunge into e-commerce succeeds, though, there's some question about whether it could boost P&G's bottom line.
Why P&G Is a Great Stock to Hold Into Retirement
If you're nearing retirement, Procter & Gamble (PG) might be a good addition to your stock portfolio. Its personal care focus, its history of creating new products, its near 50% dividend payout and its strong cash flow give it a stable outlook and make it a compelling choice for those looking to buy and hold.
Winter's Gloom Hasn't Kept Shoppers From Spending
January's retail and food services sales rose a sharp 7.8% from January 2010 and 0.3% from December. For the most part, merchants and manufacturers worked to line up wares that consumers want at prices that attract those who are now more frugal.
Face-Off: Energizer, P&G, Spectrum Brands
Hot summer weather got us thinking about short summer haircuts, which is as good a reason as any to take a close look at some consumer staples stocks. Save for utilities, no other sector has held up as well in a down market.
Two More Reports Hint at a Slowing Economy
On the heels of Intel's better-than-expected June quarter earnings report, the latest U.S. business inventories and import/export reports suggest the nation's economy slowed somewhat in the second quarter.
