Office Depot described Black Friday's sales as "okay," and said an earnings decline is likely in the current quarter in an SEC filing Monday.Complete Story »
Here's our summary of articles and data points on the housing market. It's part of Seeking Alpha's coverage of the real estate market and homebuilder stocks. Like all other topics and stock coverage from Seeking Alpha, you can have this sent to your Blackberry or desktop email by signing up for our no-spam free email subscription service.Complete Story »
Larry Dignan (ZDNet) submits: Google (GOOG) is reportedly rolling out its mobile operating system and onething is clear: It?s going to make a big splash. The question is whowill drown in Google?s wake?Complete Story »
Hickey and Walters (Bespoke) submit: Based on the most recent NYSE short interest data released mid-month, NYSE listed Consumer Discretionary stocks have the highest average short interest as a % of equity float.Complete Story »
Lon Juricicsubmits: In an amended 13D filingafter the close Friday on Borders Group (BGP),William Ackman's Pershing Square Capital hedge fund disclosed theyraised their stake in the book retailer to 17.1% (10,075,580 shares).Complete Story »
Here's our summary of articles and data points on the housing market. It's part of Seeking Alpha's coverage of the real estate market, homebuilder and housing-related stocks. Like all other topics and stock coverage from Seeking Alpha, you can have this sent to your Blackberry or desktop email by signing up for our no-spam free email subscription service.Complete Story »
Lon Juricicsubmits: In an amended 13D filing after the close Friday on Steak n Shake (SNS),Sardar Biglari's The Lion Fund disclosed they raised their stake in thecompany to 8.6% (2,446,845 shares). This is up from the 7.3% stake thefirm disclosed in a past filing.Complete Story »
U.S. stocks posted a third consecutive weekly drop. DespiteFriday's bounce, the S&P 500 is down 7% for the month, which ranksas the fifth worst November drawdown in the history of the S&P 500. Year-to-date, the total return on the S&P 500 is 2.8%, less than the return on T-bills and money markets. Complete Story »
Lon Juricicsubmits: In an amended 13D filing on Restoration Hardware Inc. (RSTO), 13.7% holder Sears Holdings (SHLD)said they are disappointed that numerous requests to receiveconfidential information have not yet been granted by the SpecialCommittee of the Board of Directors of Restoration Hardware. The firmsaid based on public information they are prepared to offer $6.75 pershare in cash.Complete Story »
Herb Greenberg(MarketWatch) submits: Thoseof us who pointed out problems with NovaStar (NFI) back in the day werelaughed off the stage as the market for securitized mortgages grew tobe so large that it ignored quality in favor of quantity. Complete Story »
(NWA)-Options activity in Northwest Airlines quickly heated up to 14 times theaverage volume this morning, with calls trading at their fastest groundspeed inmonths, making the 180,000 contracts in circulation the day?s absolutemost liquid option family by sheer volume. The trading here is characterized bywhat appears to be bull call spread activity in the December contract betweenstrikes of 15 and 20, followed by buying in the March 17.50 calls on a volumeof 90,000 lots. The action follows a 1.8% decline in the share price to $17.49.Implied volatility at 78% suggests option traders anticipating about 14% morevariability in share price going forward than it Northwest has shownhistorically. Complete Story »
Eric Savitz(Barron's) submits: The early read on Black Friday sales is upbeat for hardware makers Apple (AAPL), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) and Seagate (STX), analysts report this morning.Complete Story »
