gap

Dow Closes at Another High, Eyes Turn to U.S. Payrolls

U.S. stocks closed modestly higher on Thursday, with the Dow ending at a record for a third straight day as jobless claims data pointed to a pick-up in the labor market's recovery a day before the closely watched payrolls report.

Wall Street Watch: Dell Needs to Think Outside of the Box

Dell was once the envy of the consumer tech industry, but its days sales growth are long past. The PC maker saw its profitability drop sharply as sales tumbled 11% to $13.7 billion in the quarter that just ended -- even further than analysts expected.

Quebec to Big Retailers: Frenchify Your Signs

Walmart and several other leading North American retailers are going to court to fight orders from the Quebec Board of the French Language that their outdoor signs be modified in order to appear "more French."

Outlet Stores Are In: Their Shift from Overstock to Au Courant

Outlet stores have come a long way, baby. No longer mere repositories of last season's cast-offs, factory stores are now among the healthiest retail sectors, hawking new, trendy items made expressly for them. Credit the recession for the change -- and for more reasons than you'd expect.

Outlet Stores Are In: How They Went from Overstock Bins to Au Courant

Outlet stores have come a long way, baby. No longer mere repositories of last season's cast-offs, factory stores are now among the healthiest retail sectors, hawking new, trendy items made expressly for them. Credit the recession for the change -- and for more reasons than you'd expect.

Gas Prices, Cars Push US Retail Sales Up 0.9%

U.S. retail sales rose in August from July because consumers paid higher gas prices and bought more cars and trucks. They were more cautious elsewhere, suggesting the weak economy has made many selective about spending.

Wall Street Watch Friday:

A Turbulent Ride for Aeropostale

Business appears to be grounded at Aeropostale. The once trendy mall retailer posted uninspiring quarterly results on Thursday after the market close, and the back-to-school shopping season is shaping up to be an even bigger disappointment.

Beyond Olympic Uniforms: Where the Products We Love Are Made

Forget all the hullabaloo over Team USA's much maligned, Chinese-made Olympic uniforms; we're a nation of importers. But importing from where? Check out DailyFinance's unscientific survey of some of America's more popular products and where they're actually made.

Clearance Sales Lured Shoppers to Boost Spending in July

Hot weather and clearance sales drew Americans into stores in July, giving retailers solid sales gains and helping offset worries about jobs and the economy. Three-quarters of retailers reporting results said they beat expectations.

Why Gap Will Never Be Great Again

Gap investors may feel pretty stoked right now. Shares of the company behind Old Navy, Banana Republic, and its namesake apparel chain have been on fire this year. But look closer and you'll see why this former fashion darling is still fading.

The Year's Worst of the Worst in Online Merchants

The whole concept of online commerce hinges on convenience, particularly during the frantic holiday shopping season. Unfortunately, some well-known Web merchants left consumers seriously dissatisfied in the past year.

How to Get Great Deals from Desperate Retailers

The holiday season has been strong for retail sales overall, but some chains have still found lumps of coal in their stockings. And as the holiday season winds down, what's bad for retailers may be good for you.

5 Things to Watch: From Food Stocks to Black Friday

The holiday shopping season officially kicks off on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Actually, make that during Thanksgiving for some retailers. Here's a rundown of some of the items that will shape this holiday week.

What to Watch This Week: New Tablets, Old Retailers

There's never a dull moment on Wall Street, especially when new tablets and old banks are in the way. Let's go over some of the items that will help shape the week ahead: The Kindle Fire, the Nook Tablet, and earnings reports from Sears, Gap, Hot Topic, Lowes Home Depot and Staples.

Skip the $100 Yoga Pants, Buy Lululemon Stock

The upscale retailer of fashionable fitness apparel came through with another monster quarter this morning. Net revenue soared 39% to $212.3 million, backed by strong consumer-direct sales, brisk expansion, and a stunning 20% spike in comparable-store sales. Earnings grew even faster, climbing 76% to $38.4 million.

Gap's Global Push Brings Retailer to Vietnam, Guam

Building on its ongoing mission to grab a bigger share of the $1.4 trillion global apparel market, Gap will open its first stores in Vietnam and Guam through its franchise channel in the next few months.

Best Deals on High-Quality Back-to-School Clothes

If you're still looking for last-minute back-to-school clothing deals, Cheapism.com has done your homework for you. The review website perused hundreds of items at the nation's biggest retailers to find the best made -- and best priced -- kids' clothes.

Can Athleta Give Gap a Much-Needed Win?

Athleta, a women's sportswear merchant that the Gap bought in 2008, opened its first two East Coast stores in New York this week. At a time when 200 Gap stores are closing, Athleta is sprinting toward its goal of 50 stores by 2013. But can it beat out its fast-growing competitors?

Gap Goes to Rome: Italian Store Builds on Global Push

As part of a larger push to bring its classic American design aesthetic to international markets -- and build on its recent Italian successes -- Gap will debut a flagship store in Rome on Via del Corso, a key shopping area, on Saturday.

7 Free Shipping Options for E-Retailers

Online retailing is big business, and growing. As virtual storefronts become major revenue generators, many retailers are realizing the value of free shipping, which has the potential to greatly increase sales. Consider these seven promotional strategies, good for consumers and investors.

Why You Should Shop Carefully for Retail Stocks

Retail stocks surged Thursday, as June same-store sales sparked investor euphoria. The jump probably stood out even more sharply against a still-tough economy for many U.S. consumers. However, if this sudden elation has you thinking about snapping up retail shares yourself, make sure you shop with more than a little caution.