Finance & Capital Management

Seattle -- Amazon reported Tuesday that sales for the quarter ended June 30 soared 51% to $9.9 billion.

Profits dipped 8% to $191 million from $207 million on surging operating costs, but still beat Wall Street expectations.

New York City -- The Jones Group reported Wednesday that second-quarter earnings dropped almost 80% to $5.2 million, compared with $25.7 million in the year-ago period. The retailer and manufacturer, whose brands include Nine West and Anne Klein, cited expenses related to the acquisition of U.K. luxury footwear retailer Kurt Geiger for the poor earnings performance but results still exceeded Wall Street estimates.

Revenue for the quarter increased 3% to $887.4 million, just edging analysts’ expected $887.2 million.

Bentonville, Ark. -- A Wednesday report by Bloomberg said that Wal-Mart Stores has named Morten Knudsen as CFO for Asia, as the retailer recasts its leadership roles in the region amidst top-heavy turnover.

Knudsen, who was previously VP for corporate finance in Asia for Danone, takes the financial chief spot for Wal-Mart Asia effective Sept. 1.

Since May, Wal-Mart has lost Japanese chief Toru Noda and three of its top executives in China, including the CFO and COO Roland Lawrence and Rob Cissell, respectively.
 

Amsterdam -- The Tommy Hilfiger Group said Wednesday it has named John Ermatinger as CEO of the company's Asia business, effective Aug. 1.

Ermatinger was previously president of Gap Asia Pacific for two years and president of Gap Japan for three years. Under his leadership, Gap successfully launched the brand in China.

BOCA RATON, Fla. — Second-quarter results from Office Depot reveal ongoing challenges in an economy still struggling to regain its footing.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Books-A-Million's efforts to secure the inventory, fixtures, equipment and leasehold interests for 30 Borders stores ended unsuccessfully because the company could not agree with Borders on terms and the going out of business sales at these locations commenced, the company announced Monday.

FORT WORTH, Texas — RadioShack reported that total net sales and operating revenues from continuing operations for the 2011 second quarter were $941.9 million, compared with $962.3 million for the 2010 second quarter.  According to the company, the decrease in total net sales and operating revenues for the 2011 second quarter was driven by a $76.1 million decrease in sales generated by U.S. company-operated stores.  

MINNEAPOLIS — Supervalu on Tuesday reported first-quarter fiscal 2012 net sales of $11.1 billion (down 3.7%, versus last year) and net earnings of $74 million (up 10.4%), or 35 cents per diluted share. Posted net earnings beat the analyst consensus of 33 cents per diluted share.

Dallas -- RadioShack Corp. reported Tuesday that net income for the second quarter dropped to $24.9 million from $53 million in the year-ago period. Sales decreased to $941.9 million, compared with $962.3 million a year earlier. Wall Street expected sales of $1.03 billion.

However, analysts responded positively to RadioShack’s news that it had signed a deal with Verizon Wireless to sell its postpaid and prepaid wireless products and services beginning Sept. 15, supplanting its current program with T-Mobile.

Washington, D.C. -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that consumer confidence in the United States took an unexpected upward turn in July, from an eight-month low.

Results were led by a rebound in jobs’ outlook over the next six months.

The Conference Board’s index climbed to 59.5 from a revised 57.6 reading in June that was lower than previously estimated, according to Bloomberg research. Economists predicted the July gauge would fall to 56, according to the median forecast in a Bloomberg News survey.