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With economic concerns contributing to sluggish early holiday sales reports, Standard & Poor's Equity Research Services believes that consumers will focus their spending on broadline and discount retailers this season.

GE Capital has agreed to purchase most of Chicago-based Merrill Lynch Capital, Merrill Lynch and Co., Inc.’s wholly-owned middle-market commercial finance business. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Americans rushed to the web on Tuesday, Dec. 18 to complete their 2007 online holiday shopping as Christmas delivery deadlines loomed, resulting in a single-day Chase Paymentech Pulse Index high of $169 million in sales and more than 3 million orders. This notable sales spike is more than 42 percent higher than Friday, December 15th, the peak Pulse Index shopping day in 2006.

American consumers expect to spend about the same or less this year, according to a survey conducted by the American Consumer Institute, and the vast majority point to a weaker economy.

The holiday season is a key time to attract new customers, according to a new survey conducted by Deloitte, but many retailers may be falling short in this critical "audition."

Consumers' worries over product safety are growing, according to an analysis by legal information services provider Thomson West. And consumers are increasingly expressing those concerns in the form of lawsuits.

Employees may get away from the office during the holidays, but most of them will be taking their work with them. Just as technology has made it simpler than ever to work on the go, it's also easing holiday stress.

The euro area (EA13) industrial new orders index grew by 2.5% in October 2007 compared with September 2007. The index fell by 1.0% in September. EU27 new orders increased by 5.4% in October 2007 after a decrease of 1.7% in September. Excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment4 industrial new orders gained 1.9% in the euro area and 0.8% in the EU27 in October 2007. In October 2007 compared with October 2006, industrial new orders increased by 10.9% in the euro area and by 16.6% in the EU27. Total industry excluding ships, railway & aerospace equipment grew by 9.0% in the euro area and by 11.1% in the EU27.

The European Commission adopted new legislation on industrial emissions to strengthen the provisions already in force and reduce industrial emissions throughout the European Union. The proposal will bring significant health and environmental benefits and will create a better level playing field across the EU, reducing competition distortions between companies. It will also simplify current legislation by merging seven directives into one, significantly cutting the administrative burden for industry and public authorities.

In only 10 days Cyprus and Malta will adopt the euro, bringing to 15 the number of European Union countries that share the same currency. The final practical preparations are well under way and banks, retailers and consumers seem to be ready for the changeover. Banks and enterprises have been receiving supplies of euro banknotes and coins to be able to handle transactions in euro as from 1 January. Euro coin mini-kits have also been available for citizens since early December, to help them familiarise themselves with their new currency before €-day.