Among the questions investors now face: How much rally is left in cotton since skyrocketing 171% already in a year? Among the variables to consider are weather, demand and how much more land gets devoted to cotton. Analysts point to better and worse ways to play this commodity.
Charmed actress Alyssa Milano can often be found in the stands, cheering on Los Angeles's Dodgers, Lakers and Kings. And in a down economy, she's racked up some key wins for Touch, her line of women's sports apparel. She recently discussed the business with DailyFinance.
For many sportswear manufacturers, wintry weather leads to increased sales as people bundle up and and outfit themselves for the great outdoors. Here, Matthew Pulomena and Nikhil Hutheesing face-off on which sportswear companies stand to benefit the most -- and how investors can profit.
Shoppers didn't disappoint, buying presents at both low- and high-end prices, from jewelry to shoes. Most analysts predict sales will show year-over-year increases of 3% to 4% on Thursday, when major chains post December figures and holiday totals.
Retailers saw their sales figures jump in November with a strong Black Friday and a record-breaking Cyber Monday. The news could suggest this holiday season will be better than the last two, but could also mean that consumers have finished their shopping early.
Expect your T-shirts to get a little bit thinner next year -- and maybe a little more expensive. Apparel retailers are looking high and low for ways to keep from passing on too much of their own rising costs to consumers. The trick: Doing so without hurting quality.
As retailers wrapped up their earnings reports this week, most said they're back in cost-control mode and will tighten inventories after the holidays. Shoppers are still spending cautiously and costs are on the rise, so profits will have to be squeezed out of slowly rising sales.
Gap's (GPS) fiscal third-quarter profit fell 1.3% as negative same-store sales for the clothing retailer's Old Navy chain offset gains overseas. Shares fell in extended trading after the company failed to beat Wall Street earnings forecasts.
