Business - Retail

A look at how retailer Sears Holdings Corp. performed during the second quarter.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. jewelers are confident they will prevail this holiday shopping season, betting that upscale and middle-income customers won't resist buying baubles despite a weak economy.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. sales will stay sluggish through the holidays and well into next year, despite hopes consumers would get earlier relief from higher food and fuel prices, the National Retail Federation said on Thursday.

NEW YORK - Jewelry retailer Tiffany says second-quarter profit doubled, beating Wall Street expectations as sales rose by double-digit percentages in Asia and Europe.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Sears Holdings Corp posted a quarterly profit that fell far short of Wall Street expectations and cut its full-year earnings forecast as consumers scaled back shopping in a weak U.S. economy.

HONG KONG (Reuters) - Shares in Esprit Holdings, the world's No. 5 fashion retailer, plunged nearly a fifth on Thursday to their lowest in two years after the firm missed earnings forecasts and warned investors of tougher times ahead.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apparel retailers Chico's FAS Inc and American Eagle Outfitters Inc posted better-than-expected profits on Tuesday despite taking deep markdowns to lure shoppers of all ages, sending their shares higher.

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - Cautious apparel buyers are foregoing orders to be delivered months down the road and instead are buying for the moment, unwilling to take on excess inventory and unsure over what the future holds.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Big Lots Inc said profit rose as shoppers sought low prices at its stores, but its shares fell as much as 6 percent after it said same-store sales for the rest of the year would likely trail the first half.

NEW YORK - In extended headlines of Aug. 21 stories about clothing retailer Aeropostale Inc.'s second-quarter earnings report and the company's outlook, The Associated Press erroneously spelled the name. It is Aeropostale, not Aerpostale or Aeropostal.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Women's clothing retailer AnnTaylor Stores Corp reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and affirmed its full-year outlook, as tight control of inventories and costs helped offset falling sales.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Gap Inc reported a 50 percent jump in quarterly net income on Thursday, beating Wall Street estimates, as cost-cutting, lower inventories and other moves that boosted profit offset declining sales at its family of clothing stores.

NEW YORK - Apparel retailer Gap Inc. said Thursday that tight control on inventory and costs helped offset a persistent sales slump, particularly at its Old Navy stores, as fiscal second-quarter profit rose 51 percent.

PORTLAND, Ore. - Popular but troubled retailer Steve & Barry's may live on under new ownership.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Kohl's Corp , a mid-priced apparel and home goods retailer, said on Thursday that Chief Executive Larry Montgomery would step down from the role, to be succeeded by President Kevin Mansell.

NEW YORK - Kohl's Corp. announced Thursday that Chairman Larry Montgomery has resigned as chief executive and will be replaced in that role by the retailer's president, Kevin Mansell.

LONDON (AFP) - Retail sales rose in July, recovering from the biggest monthly drop for 22 years in June, official data showed on Thursday.

(Reuters) - Larry Montgomery is expected to step down as retailer Kohl's Corp chief executive, The Wall Street Journal said.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - BJ's Wholesale Club Inc reported higher-than-expected quarterly earnings, but its shares fell nearly 7 percent as the retailer gave a disappointing forecast, signaling business could be tough in the fourth quarter that includes the crucial holiday season.

NEW YORK - From affluent shoppers at Saks to bargain-hunters at Target, from Home Depot to office supplier Staples, consumers are pulling back and that's hurting retailers and raising more concerns about how they'll do the rest of the year.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Home Depot Inc , the world's largest home improvement retailer, reported higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Tuesday as it held down costs and consumers took on spring projects.

CHICAGO - The Home Depot Inc. said Tuesday that its second-quarter profit sank 24 percent and reiterated its downbeat outlook for the year amid a weak housing market that shows no signs of recovery.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Upscale retailer Saks Inc. posted a wider-than-expected quarterly loss on Tuesday, as even its well-to-do shoppers curbed spending as the economy weakens, and forecast a drop in its 2008 operating margin.

NEW YORK - Luxury goods retailer Saks Inc. reported a wider-than-expected loss for the second quarter on Tuesday and delivered a downbeat forecast for the year as its affluent customers cut back on apparel amid a slowing economy.

ATLANTA (Reuters) - Retailer Lowe's Cos reported a higher-than-expected quarterly profit on Monday as U.S. consumers spent tax rebate checks on spring projects, but it forecast third-quarter results below Wall Street estimates.

(Reuters) - Bankrupt home furnishings retailer Linens 'n Things has devised a plan to emerge from bankruptcy early next year, the New York Post reported.

CHICAGO - Repairs to drought-stricken flower beds and sales of freezers designed to hold bought-in-bulk food helped Lowe's Cos. Inc. post a better-than-expected second-quarter profit.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Apparel retailer American Eagle Outfitters prices and concentration on jeans and T-shirts, both back-to-school staples, should help give it a boost among cost-conscious teens during a challenging retail environment, Barron's reported in its August 18 edition.