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Many of America's best-known retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot and JCPenney, will be stepping into the earnings spotlight this week. Their reports come on the heels of disappointing January retail sales numbers from the Commerce Department.

Borders says it will postpone January payments to many vendors to conserve cash, though the move may do no more than delay a prepackaged bankruptcy or breakup of the company.

Just as rumors of a merger with Borders Books began to fade, the bookseller is once again in the spotlight as a major stakeholder, Aletheia Research and Management, is embroiled in legal troubles and an SEC investigation.

Google is joining the fray, finally entering the crowded world of e-books alongside Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple. It is a little late to the party, but the world's largest search company has an inherent advantage over its competition.

Burger King (BKC), the nation's No. 2 burger chain, is reportedly in talks with private equity firms over a possible sale. Earlier today, The Wall Street Journal reported that one likely buyer is 3i Group, a U.K.-based buyout firm. But a recent report from New York Times says 3i is not courting...

Investor Ron Burkle, who's embroiled in a proxy fight at Barnes & Noble, says he doesn't want control of the bookseller. His Yucaipa Companies owns 18.8% of the company and claims in a letter that he wants Chairman Leonard Riggio's hold on Barnes & Noble broken.

Amazon is raving about sales of its new-generation Kindle, calling the device its fastest-selling e-reader ever. But it won't say how many have sold -- is it worried that Wall Street will be disappointed?

Sony has cut the price of its entry level e-reader by $30 to $169.99. Some predict prices could fall as low as $99 by next year.

Barnes and Noble has announced that some people who ordered Nook e-readers will be disappointed this year, as their orders are delayed. The book retailer will try to make up for the delay by sending $100 coupons to those left out in the gift-giving cold.

Barnes & Noble's (BKS) dedicated e-reader, nook, still remains a scarce sight as the holidays approach. Early-bird customers who expected their devices to ship on November 30 still haven't received them -- and won't for at least another week.In-store sales were supposed to begin Monday but have...