News

San Francisco – A federal judge has reportedly approved an antitrust settlement EBay reached in May 2012. The settlement relates to a secret deal EBay reached with tax preparation software provider Intuit in which the two companies agreed not to hire each other’s employees.

According to Reuters, the settlement calls for EBay to not make any deals with any other technology companies to avoid hiring each other’s employees.

By A.J. Clark, Thermopylae

The Home Depot is the latest major retailer to investigate what looks like a data breach.

The Atlanta-based retailer is looking into the matter and also working with law enforcement and bank investigators.

"Protecting our customers' information is something we take extremely seriously, and we are aggressively gathering facts at this point while working to protect customers,” the retailer said in a statement.

Carle Place, N.Y. -- 1-800-Flowers.com Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire gourmet food and gift retailer Harry & David Holdings for $142.5 million in cash.  

The deal includes Harry & David’s brands and websites as well as its headquarters, manufacturing and distribution facilities and orchards in Medford, Oregon, a warehouse and distribution facility in Hebron, Ohio, and 47 Harry & David stores.

Fred’s second-quarter results reflected the company’s strategic decision to build its business model for the future as a convenience/pharmacy-centric store, driven by data-based inventory management, according to CEO Bruce Efird.

The company reported a net loss of $16.4 million for the quarter. Fred's total sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 increased 2% to $491.2 million. On a comparable-store basis, second-quarter sales decreased 0.1%.

Washington, D.C. -- Household purchases unexpectedly fell 0.1% in July, after rising 0.4% the prior month, according to figures released by the Commerce Department. It was the first drop in six months. On a more positive note, confidence among households hit a seven-year high in August, according to the Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan's consumer sentiment index.

New York – A Credit Suisse analyst is reportedly recommending that Staples and Office Depot, itself recently merged with Office Max, merge. According to Investors Business Daily, Credit Suisse analyst Gary Balter made the suggestion in a note sent to clients on Tuesday, Sept. 2.

The Family Dollar board is under new pressure to walk away from a deal with Dollar Tree after Dollar General further increased an already more generous counter offer.

Early Monday Dollar General increased its all cash offer to $80 a share from $78.50 a share and increased the number of stores it said it would be willing to divest to 1,500 from 700. The company also said it would be willing to pay Family Dollar a $500 million reverse break-up if the deal failed to secure antitrust clearance.