Off-price retailer Ross Stores Inc posted a bigger-than-expected 4 percent rise in July same-store sales and forecast second-quarter earnings ahead of estimates, as cash-strapped consumers turn to value retailers to seek out bargains amid the recession.
Mexico's peso pared gains to trade nearly flat after key U.S. economic data showed consumer spending in the United States shrank in the second quarter, pointing to a sluggish recovery for Mexico's exports.
Mexican stocks slipped and the peso lost ground after news that U.S. consumer confidence fell more than expected in July, boding poorly for a recovery in Mexico's exports.
EU regulators said they would fine-tune antitrust rules on distribution deals between manufacturers and retailers due to the stronger power of big players and the increasing popularity of Internet sales.
Traditional city centre high streets could be further threatened by planned out-of-town development laws, MPs warned.
British outdoor goods retailer Blacks Leisure Group Plc said that it had secured funds for a further year, but warned that its full year performance would be below market expectations.
German retailer Metro is examining alternatives to the option of formally merging its department store chain Kaufhof with that of Karstadt, a German magazine said.
Finnish retailer Kesko saw second-quarter earnings halve year-on-year as customers reined in spending, and the firm said its outlook for the next 12 months was gloomy.
Asia is leading a recovery in global trade, but world trade volumes are still expected to shrink 10 percent this year, the World Trade Organization said.
Chile's Falabella, one of South America's leading retailers, is planning to invest $350 million in 2009 in Peru, where it wants to double its size by 2012.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's biggest retailer, plans to sell five-year Samurai bonds, documents filed with Japanese financial authorities showed.
India's Future Group said private equity firm Fung Capital has agreed to invest $30 million in Future Logistics Solutions, its logistics and supply chain unit.
Shares in Arcandor are indicated 4.2% lower in pre-bourse trade after the retailer's insolvency lawyer, Horst Piepenburg, steps down citing a lack of support from major shareholder Sal Oppenheim.
Wal-Mart Stores Inc, the world's biggest retailer, is preparing to hold a meeting to announce the development of an index that will be used to measure the environmental impact of the products it sells in its stores.
South Africa's retail sales fell again in May, boding ill for second quarter GDP and supporting the case for another interest rate cut.
