Consumer Discretionary

More

• Why Advertisers Are Betting Big on the Super Bowl

  

  The Super Bowl isn't just the biggest football game of the year, it's also the biggest event for Madison Avenue. This year the ads are costlier, but also a potentially better investment.

• F.T.C. Suggests New Policy Guidelines for Mobile Apps

  

  In a strong move to protect the privacy of Americans as they use the Internet on their smartphones and tablets, the FTC said the mobile industry should include a do-not-track feature in software and apps and take other steps to safeguard personal information.

• Declining Car Sales Sink European Upturn Hopes

  

  Car sales extended their declines in France, Spain and Italy last month, data showed on Friday, leaving little hope of a European auto market rebound anytime soon.

• Beer Bowl 2013: San Francisco vs. Baltimore

  

  It's the battle of the beers in the Super Bowl team hometowns. And dreams do come true, Jimmy: A land where beer is cheaper than water!

• Auto Sales Start the Year With a Bang

  

  If January is any indication, 2013 could be another big year for auto sales in the U.S.

• Add-On Airline Fees Rise, Get Even More Confusing: Survey

  

  Add-on airline fees are getting pricier and changing frequently, making comparison shopping difficult.

• Why Your Super Bowl Party Will Cost More This Year

  

  Chicken wing prices have spiked, making this year's Super Bowl parties more expensive than last year. Maybe it's time to serve bacon instead of wings!

• After 'Halftime in America,' The Big 3 Go on Offense

  

  When Clint Eastwood said in a Super Bowl commercial for Chrysler, "It's halftime America and our second half is about to begin," many looked at it as a rallying cry for American business. It's easy to see why.

• And We're Back! Dow 14,000 Fuels a New Wealth Boom

  

  With the Dow breaching 14,000, investors have recovered the more than $8 trillion in wealth lost during the recession and millionaires are more numerous and more confident than they've ever been.

• Nike and the NFL: Sizing Up the First Year

  

  Last year, Nike paid $1.1 billion to clothe the NFL for the next five years. If it goes well, some analysts estimate it could mean half a billion in revenue for each of those five years. However, the first year has not been without hiccups.

• Why the Wealthiest Benefit Most From Dow 14,000

  

  With 82 percent of all directly owned stocks in the United States in the hands of the wealthiest five percent of Americans, the gains from the recent stock market surge will go almost entirely to those who are already rich.

• Sony Playstation Meeting Ignites Talk of PS4

  

  Sony will this month host its first major Playstation meeting in two years, sparking a flare-up in online speculation the Japanese consumer electronics giant is preparing to unveil the successor to its 70 million-selling PS3 games console. Sony declined to say whether it would release a new product at the meeting in New York on Feb. 20. "

• Is Samsung Closing the Image Gap With Apple?

  

  Millions of smartphone users around the world who are now viewing Samsung's mobile devices in a new light and opting for them over Apple's much sought-after premium products as Samsung's deep market penetration is boosting its brand image, along with smartphone sales.

• Asian Emphasis in Asset Allocation: Pro 

  

  Stephen Davies, CEO, Javelin Wealth Management says he had reduced his cash weights and remains fully weighted on equities, with an emphasis on Asia and emerging markets.

• Cramer: Could This Company Generate Monster Gains?

  

  The company makes mouth-watering treats, but that's not the only reason Jim Cramer has an appetite for this stock.

• Dunkin Brands CEO: We're Excited About Baskin-Robbins In China 

  

  Dunkin Brands CEO Nigel Travis discusses the discipline his company maintains in choosing franchises, and his excitement for Baskin-Robbins in China and the year ahead.

• 49ers' Culliver Sorry for Remarks 

  

  A San Francisco 49'er cornerback is apologizing for making anti-gay comments. CNBC's Brian Shactman has details.

• The Five Highest Tax States for the Highest Earners

  

  Virtually every state's tax system unfairly takes from those who make the least, says a new report. But which states take the most from their richest residents?

• Bowl-Bound Jets Stock Up on Dom Perignon and Wings

  

  More than 1,000 private jets are expected to fly into New Orleans this weekend, just under last year's tally of around 1,100 planes in Indianapolis – one of the biggest ever.

• Beer Suit: Too Much Regulation? 

  

  Donald Baker, former Department of Justice antitrust division head, says the DOJ has been somewhat permissive in mergers and acquisitions over the past decade.