With nightmares of Christmas 2008 markdowns dancing in their heads, retailers have slashed inventories to some of the leanest levels in recent memory.

The retailer posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss, helped by the first increase in same-store sales at its Kmart unit in four years.

While gift cards remain the most requested holiday item, U.S. shoppers are expected to pull back on buying them this year because of the weak economy, according to a retail survey released on Thursday.

Costco customers may have to look elsewhere for Coca-Cola products now that the retailer has stopped carrying them because the pair are fighting over prices.

Swedish fashion giant Hennes & Mauritz posted an unexpected 3 percent drop in sales at established stores in October, blaming the economic conditions in some of its major markets.

Oil prices rose more than 3 percent on Monday, taking back all of last week's 1.4 percent losses as the dollar drifted lower and better-than-expected U.S. consumer spending data boosted markets.

The dollar fell broadly Monday though it rose from session lows after Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said the U.S. central bank is attentive to changes in the dollar.

With a crucial holiday approaching for video game makers, Reggie Fils-Aime, President and COO of Nintendo America, said he expects the close release dates of big-name titles "Call of Duty" and "Super Mario Bros. Wii," out Sunday, to revive the industry from its sales lag.

Acai Berry Juice sold some $40 million within its first 90 days on the market and is expected to hit roughly $110 million in sales next year, Lindsay Duncan, Genesis Today founder, president & CEO, told CNBC.

Walt Disney shares rose in after-hours trading Thursday after the company reported earnings and revenue that beat analysts' expectations.

Stocks struggled Thursday as investors juggled a weak holiday outlook from Wal-Mart and a drop in jobless claims. Techs clawed higher, with huge gains in JDS Uniphase and AMD.

Britons are among the ugliest people in the world, according to a dating Web site that says it only allows "beautiful people" to join.

Stocks struggled Thursday as investors juggled a weak holiday outlook from Wal-Mart and a drop in jobless claims. Techs clawed higher, with huge gains in JDS Uniphase and AMD.

Costco is hoping that consumers are becoming more comfortable making purchases as the No. 1 U.S. warehouse club operator heads into the year-end holiday shopping season.