Kmart

The stores that dress the nation are turning to fashion blogs for direction on styles and trends -- and even marketing partnerships -- as they work to lure in today's digitally-connected shoppers.

Every bullish run or bearish retreat offers a great opportunity to learn something about the market and the publicly traded companies that make it happen. So what did 2012's monstrously good first quarter teach the observant investor?

The S&P 500 soared 12% during the first three months of 2012, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq managed a nearly 19% spurt. Those are good numbers even for a whole year -- but these seven investments beat the indexes by huge margins.

Best Buy has a big plan to cut its costs and regain its focus: closing stores, laying off employees, shifting its focus to smartphones and mobile gadgets, and slimming down margins. Only problem is, none of that is going to save it.

It'll be a good Easter for sellers of brightly colored outfits and chocolate bunnies: Americans are expected to shell out 11% more for the holiday this year.

Shares of Sears Holdings fell 27% Tuesday on news that the retailer would close as many as 120 poorly performing Sears and Kmart stores -- an unusually harsh response to a cost-cutting measure. Clearly, investors are concerned that the problems run much deeper -- and they're right to worry.

Sears Holdings on Tuesday reported a sharp drop in holiday sales compared to a year ago, and said the results will force it to close 100 to 120 Sears and Kmart stores. The company said the stores to be closed have yet to be identified.

When Sears and Kmart were merged into Sears Holdings by Eddie Lampert, it looked like he had a reasonable plan to reinvigorate the two battered retailers. What went wrong? Just about everything.

News flash, retailers: There's a reason that mosh pit of rock-bottom deals and rampant consumerism is called Black Friday -- it occurs on Friday. And there's good reason to keep it that way.

That's what retailers anxious to lure holiday shoppers are hoping to find out with their latest innovation: Walmart, Kmart, Sears and eBay are all testing versions of the "real" online store.