Financial/Banking

New York -- McDonald’s, Whole Foods Market and Best Buy are among the retailers participating in a new American Express program that allows shoppers to load discounts onto their American Express cards via Twitter.

Why has Google arguably become the most popular advertising platform on the planet, attracting a whopping $36.5 billion in ad spending in 2011?  And why has Facebook, with an expected IPO valuation of around $100 billion, become such a juggernaut in digital marketing?

The short answer is both Internet platforms combine huge audiences and some capacity to understand individual preferences (based on online behavior and conversation) in order to help brands engage the right consumers with more relevant advertising content and dialogues. 

Houston -- The Men's Wearhouse reported a net loss of $3.8 million for the quarter that ended Jan. 28, compared with a net loss of $14.1 million a year earlier, as it cut costs and increased prices.

The results beat forecasts, and the company said it expects 2012 income to be higher than expectations.

Revenue was $562.2 million, up from $542.1 million.

YONKERS, N.Y. — After three consecutive months of improvement, the Consumer Reports Index for March slipped to 46.1, from 49.6 last month.

March's Consumer Reports Index measures overall consumer financial health and showed that the confidence of the American consumer is waning.

Further challenging consumer confidence, The Trouble Tracker Index increased slightly this month to 52.2 from 49.1 in February, and is now at its highest level since August 2011.

Houston — Profits at apparel retailer Stage Stores rose 2% to $32.7 million during the fourth quarter, from $32 million a year earlier.

Revenue increased 6% to $479.1 million from $453.7 million, beating Wall Street's $468.2 million forecast.

For the year, Stage Stores reported net income of $31 million, down from $37.6 million in the prior year. Annual revenue climbed 3% to $1.51 billion.

Incoming Target CFO John Mulligan and outgoing CFO Doug Scovanner participated in a Target sponsored meeting last Friday at the New York stock exchange. The event gave Wall Street analysts an opportunity to get to know Mulligan, and the consensus is the guy is a strong replacement for longtime CFO Scovanner whose tenure ends March 30.

Houston -- Stage Stores Inc. reported Tuesday that profit for the fourth quarter rose 2% to $32.7 million, from $32 million a year earlier.

Revenue increased 6% to $479.1 million from $453.7 million, beating Wall Street's $468.2 million forecast.

For the year, Stage Stores reported net income of $31 million, down from $37.6 million in the prior year. Annual revenue climbed 3% to $1.51 billion.
 

Ankeny, Iowa -- Casey's General Stores Inc. reported Monday that profit for the third quarter rose 30% to $16.7 million, from $12.9 million a year earlier. Casey's revenue rose from $1.37 billion to $1.58 billion.

Both figures missed Wall Street estimates.