Retailers Smile, but Many a Mile Still to Go

Is this a good time to be in Retail? Well, it seems so from the looks of it. It is widely expected that Retailers in the US would beat expectations as quite a few results announcements are queueing up for the coming quarter.

The likes of Wal Mart Inc, Macy’s and JC Penney could surprise investors – Retailers have been tightening their purse strings hard and fast for the last few months that costs have been pared to a minimum, which should add to the bottom line.

That businesses are improving for the quarter is evident by the stream of good numbers posted at the Wall Street. But how much of them would sustain with consistency and how many more pairs of legs would stroll along the aisles with filled up baskets, depends on the economy, the jobless counts and lack of further systemic jolts, among a host of factors.

GM – Magna – RHJ: Triangular Tale of Twisted Love

The GM Magna story seems to have been on for a long long wile now. The automaker did a good deal by emerging out of the recession in a quick fashion and in a sleak form. Now, it would do a lot of good for GM to stay on course and get its Europe act right.

If GM is in love with RHJ, should it really bow down to German pressure to marry Magna? After all, GM could get Opel back if it goes for RHJ now. Bending to pressure would be an attestation of sell out of business freedom that GM lost with its bankruptcy.

Go for what your inner voice says, GM! Go for RHJ!