From that TP dispenser with the old guy holding his nose to Jesus action figures, there’s a lot of really weird stuff out there and it’s a fine line between stupid and cool. Here are 12 of the weirdest gift ideas. Check 'em out, then you decide: Are they stupid or cool?   Read More

Forget Elmo, the iPod and gift cards — all top sellers in years past. This holiday season, it’s the year of “Gifts Under $__.” From department stores to day spas, everyone it seems, has a promotion for gifts under a certain price point to appeal to penny-pinching shoppers.   Read More

The bet is that some small amount of money will be given to the auto makers now, enough to serve as some type of bridge loan into early 2009. At that point the Democrats will have the political leverage to develop a broader rescue package in the first weeks of February.    Read More

Consumer inflation data, more retailers' earnings, and another day of auto executives on Capitol Hill are on tap for Wednesday.   Read More

Barry James of James Advantage Funds likens the current stock market to a ball bouncing downstairs: Sharp drops are followed by rebounds that can make money for shrewd investors.   Read More

This holiday season is make or break for some retailers, and while it’s not even Halloween yet, we’re already seeing some of them break. Are we going to see more before Christmas?   Read More

Due to the Yom Kippur holiday tomorrow, a number of retailers are reporting September same store sales a day early. In general, discounters (ex-Target) outperformed, so Wal-Mart, Costco BJ, and Fred's all did fairly well.    Read More

Barry James thinks the market is in a bottoming phase, and he sees a rally on the horizon: “We don’t think we’re out of the overall bear market, but we think it’s time to buy."   Read More

Following are the day’s biggest winners and losers. Find out why shares of China Mobile and VeriFone popped while eBay and Royal Bank Of Scotland dropped.   Read More

It's hard to say whether Wall Street's fear of itself or rising oil prices will be more of an impediment for stocks this week. Both of those trends were apparent Tuesday and could continue to hang over the market Wednesday.    Read More