Retail

Black Friday Shoppers Crowd Best Buy, Target in Pursuit of `Elusive' Gifts Shoppers took advantage of Black Friday discounts to snap up televisions, laptop computers and robot hamsters at Best Buy Co., Target Corp. and Toys “R” Us Inc. stores from New Jersey to Texas.

Cadbury Investors Should Sell as Higher Kraft Offer Unlikely, Analyst Says Cadbury Plc investors should sell their shares in the U.K. candy maker because Kraft Foods Inc. is unlikely to raise its cash-and-stock offer above the current share price, Consumer Equity Research said today.

Merbanco, Renco, Beijing Auto Said to Make Approaches About GM's Saab Unit Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co., Merbanco Inc. and Renco Group Inc. have made approaches about General Motors Co.’s Saab unit after a sale to Koenigsegg Group collapsed, two people familiar with the situation said.

San Miguel Directors May Lead Takeover After $1.36 Billion Stake Purchase San Miguel Corp. Directors Inigo Zobel and Roberto Ongpin may lead a takeover offer for the Philippines’ biggest food and beverage maker after paying 64.3 billion pesos ($1.36 billion) for a 28 percent stake.

Frankfurt Trust's Thomas Sells Metro on Bleak Outlook For German Economy Metro AG’s share-price gain has outpaced the outlook for the German retailer’s profit growth this year, according to fund manager Stephan Thomas, who said he’s selling the shares because weakness in the domestic economy may offset savings from the company’s cost-cutting plan.

Japan Consumer Prices Fall Near-Record 2.2%, Reinforcing Deflation Concern Japan’s consumer prices fell at a near record pace in October, reinforcing the government’s concern that deflation will hamper the economy’s recovery from its worst postwar recession.

Carphone Warehouse Raises Full-Year Forecast on Higher First-Half Revenue Carphone Warehouse Group Plc, Europe’s largest mobile-phone and laptop retailer, increased its full-year profit forecast after first-half earnings and sales rose, helped by the purchase of Tiscali SpA’s U.K. unit.

Oriental Watch Forecasts Sales Growth on China's Demand for Rolex, Omega Oriental Watch Holdings Ltd., Hong Kong’s second-biggest listed watch retailer, forecast sales will grow at least 10 percent next year on resurgent Chinese demand for brands such as Rolex and Swatch Group AG’s Omega.

Billionaire Sy's SM Investments Forecasts as Much as 15% Growth Next Year SM Investments Corp., the holding company of Philippine billionaire Henry Sy, expects sales to grow between 12 percent and 15 percent next year, Chief Financial Officer Jose Sio said.

Threshers, Wine Rack Owner to Shut 391 U.K. Stores, Eliminate 2,140 Jobs Administrators to First Quench Retailing Ltd., the owner of U.K. liquor store chains including Threshers and Wine Rack, will cut an additional 2,140 jobs after failing to find buyers for a further 391 stores.