Easy comparisons and relatively favorable weather helped increase same-store sales in the typically weak month of October for retailers, up 1.8% from the year-earlier level but below the 2% growth expectation. Results for this series, which tracks data for stores open at least a year from 30 major retailers, had come ahead of expectations the last two months. As a result of the financial crisis last fall, conditions were extremely bad in October of last year, when retail sales were down 4.1%. October is typically a weak month for retailers, sandwiched as it is between the active shopping periods of back-to-school and the holiday season. The monthly sales numbers do not include data from Wal-Mart (WMT), which stopped giving monthly sales numbers earlier this year. Results were mixed among the major retail categories, particularly department stores and teen retailers. Sales at Macy’s (M) and ...

A.F. analysts clash… can the niche retailer survive the credit crunch?…Crisis begets steadfast citizens… Americans move about the country at lowest rate in 47 years…A long-term outlook on the American stock market…The latest sector to catch Chris Mayer’s attention…U.K. launches historic spending spree, hikes taxes to 50%..

If the credit-strapped suburban mall culture is truly on the rocks, how long do you think this can survive:

Lady Amaranth, Goth Temptress

Among our analysts, a debate brews at the heart of the current consumer conundrum: “Cutting-edge apparel retailer Hot Topic,” writes Wayne Burritt, about the purveyor of goth clothing and lip-piercing paraphernalia, “is loaded with attractive fundamentals and technicals, while its call options offer an oversized premium. Hot Topic is a mall and Web-based specialty retailer that has a proven track record in the often-fickle teen

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Corporate earnings will take center stage again this week as certain financials hope to follow last week’s upbeat announcement by banking giant Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) with some decent earnings reports of their own.

Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) reports tomorrow (Tuesday), while JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) reports Thursday, and Citigroup Inc (C) reports on Friday.

While the chief executives of several of the largest U.S. banks were quick to announce favorable showings for the first two months of the year, analysts are concerned that the strong showings may not have carried over into March, and that the performances of some of these money-centered banks may disappoint.

Contradictions hit the financials last week as diverse reports about Morgan Stanley (MS) and Wells Fargo brought even more confusion to a sector that

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Our researcher, a href=”http://student.dcu.ie/~cullr2/”Ronan Cull/a, has put together this list of stock picks (Irish, UK, Canadian and US) from around the web. Any take your fancy! a href=”http://www.zignals.com”Chart – Save – Alert with Zignals/a for free.br /br /”Changing Value: 9 picks for 2009 = APC, GE, ISRG, WFC, and more” Sheldon Liber (BloggingStocks.com)br / 1. American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) 2. Anadarko Petroleum (APC) 3. Anglo American (AAUK) 4. Annaly Capital Management (NLY) 5. Diageo plc. (DEO) 6. General Electric Company (GE) 7. Intuitive Surgical Inc. (ISRG) 8. Wells Fargo and Company (WFC) 9. EZCorp Inc. (EZPW)br / br /”Brokers Bullish ISEQ after rise” Pat Boyle (Independent.ie)br /Davy:br / 1. CRH 2. Ryanair 3. …

These days, times are tough in the middle market of the retail business. Luxury companies like Louis Vitton are doing just fine, as the rich keep spending regardless of the economic climate. And discount retailers like Wal-Mart are benefiting big-time from tight budgets in the lower and middle classes as consumers look to cut costs on discretionary items as their gas and food bills soar. But the middle men - companies like American Eagle Outfitters, The Gap, and Tween Brands - are suffering as their customers choose low cost alternatives, or make do with last year’s wardrobe. View the TWB WikiChart on Wikinvest On Tuesday, Tween Brands announced that it will shift its focus from its more established Limited Too stores to its newer, cheaper Justice Brand. In response, investors crushed Tween’s stock price - it fell 17% in that day’s ...

In all the excitement this week I skimped on some fundamental/economic stories to focus more on the market and transactions. So we have some catching up to do.I said long ago as the economy weakens the last things to go would be teenagers and their Abercrombie (ANF) $100 jeans, and video games/gadgets. Well it appears all we have left now are the video games/gadgets. You know Americans are "pooring" when they won't even splurge on their kids. (Note to Bloomberg reporters - $50 jeans? In what Abercrombie store did you not visit to file your report?) (Note to Wall Street pundits - what will it take for you to admit we are in recession?)The financial pressures of adults are finally catching up with American teenagers. Since summer jobs dried up, gasoline prices topped ...

With back-to-school season upon us but little time to shop, we stock market nerds can get a heads-up on the latest fashions and trends simply by reviewing a few choice conference calls.

And S&P futures are up more than 2 points this evening. It looks like a potentially stronger open for Wall Street Thursday following better than expected earnings from Yum! Brands (YUM) and Genentech (DNA)