DailyDeals

Groupon Inc.'s shares soared in trading Monday ahead of the online deals company's first-quarter financial report, which comes out after the market closes.

The problem with most daily deal sites is that the bargains you're offered aren't necessarily the ones you want. That's where Amazon thinks it can gain an advantage, by leveraging its signature product recommendation technology.

You love Grandma, but you're not feeling that floral jumpsuit she gave you. And that gift card from Omaha Steaks won't quite work: Auntie forgot you're a vegetarian. Here are a few tips to help you ditch this season's gifting goofs.

Forget the material things %u2014 reindeer sweaters, clunky toys, stocking stuffers that end up as, well, stuff. How about a skydiving lesson, a spa pampering or a night at a cozy bed and breakfast This holiday season, a lasting memory is worth a thousand knickknacks.

Daily deals services are multiplying even faster than savings-hungry consumers can track them. But this business model is deeply flawed: A significant fraction of those who purchase a deal never even redeem their coupons, meaning these so-called "promotions" are failures, for shoppers and retailers both. And merchants can suffer when deals are redeemed.

Wall Street can be fickle, leaving investors scratching their heads in bewilderment. Some of last week's biggest surprises, blunders, and flat-out bone-headed moves included Morgan Stanley's downgrading of Google, another step toward a LivingSocial IPO, and irrational exuberance with respect to Wendy's stock.

Group buying sites like Groupon, LivingSocial, and BuyWithMe have exploded over the past year, offering incredible local deals in every major city across the country. While cities like New York, Chicago, and San Francisco are lush with deals, there are far fewer options for the approximately 270...

Target is really going upscale, offering big name brands for less on its Web site. And these aren't home-grown house brands either, but established designers. A recent visit to Target.com reveals high-end merchandise like Lucky Brand jeans for $59.99 marked down from $110, or a Calvin Klein wallet...

If watching the mess that is our financial markets isn't quite giving you your daily dose of stupidity, Wendy Nortcutt is here to help with The Darwin Awards 4: Intelligent Design. Amazon.com has it for $3.99, 70% off the $13 list price. From the publisher:With over 1.5 million copies sold, the...