Ted Fellman has joined Raymond James as a senior vice president in the firm’s public finance group.

Fellman, who is based in Nashville, has had an extensive career in state government, including serving 18 years with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. His work with that group included stints as executive director and chief financial officer.

2. Fred’s Key Revenue Figure Falls 3 Percent in March - Saturday, April 13, 2013

Discount retailer Fred's Inc. said Thursday its March revenue at stores open at least a year fell 3 percent, hurt by unseasonably cool weather and a timing shift in the Easter holiday.

3. Fred’s Key Revenue Figure Falls 3 Percent in March - Friday, April 12, 2013

Memphis-based discount retailer Fred’s Inc. said Thursday, April 11, its March revenue at stores open at least a year fell 3 percent, hurt by unseasonably cool weather and a timing shift in the Easter holiday.

4. Raymond James Adds Fellman as Senior Vice President - Thursday, April 11, 2013

Ted Fellman has joined Raymond James as a senior vice president in the firm’s public finance group.

Fellman, who is based in Nashville, has had an extensive career in state government, including serving 18 years with the Tennessee Housing Development Agency. His work with that group included stints as executive director and chief financial officer.

5. Fred's February Revenue Figure Declines 1.5 Percent - Saturday, March 09, 2013

Discount retailer Fred’s Inc. reported Thursday that a key revenue figure fell 1.5 percent in February.

Fred’s also lowered its fourth quarter guidance due to markdowns and higher-than-expected costs.

6. Fred’s February Revenue Figure Declines - Friday, March 08, 2013

Discount retailer Fred’s Inc. reported Thursday that a key revenue figure fell 1.5 percent in February.

Fred’s also lowered its fourth quarter guidance due to markdowns and higher-than-expected costs.

7. Office Depot Agrees to Buy OfficeMax in Stock Deal - Thursday, February 21, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Office Depot and OfficeMax are being collated.

The retailers said Wednesday they have agreed to combine in an all-stock deal worth about $1.2 billion that would transform the office-supply retail sector by helping the No. 2 and No. 3 chains compete against industry behemoth Staples.

8. Thomson Reuters to Cut 2,500 Jobs - Thursday, February 14, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – News and financial information company Thomson Reuters on Wednesday said it is cutting 2,500 jobs, or about 4 percent of its workforce, this year as it tries to reduce costs and turn around its largest division.

9. Retailers Report Strong January Sales - Friday, February 08, 2013

NEW YORK (AP) – Sometimes, the devil is in the deals. Americans shopped the winter clearance racks in January, resulting in strong sales during the month for retailers.

But spending is expected to slow as the deals dry up heading into the spring, and Americans digest rising gas prices and a 2 percent payroll tax hike that started in January.

10. Fred’s December Sales Decrease 4.2 Percent - Saturday, January 05, 2013

Discount retailer Fred’s Inc. said Thursday that revenue at stores open at least a year fell 4.2 percent last month as shoppers spent less money on fears about the economy.

The company also lowered its fourth-quarter earnings expectations, and its shares slipped in morning trading.

11. Fred’s December Sales Fall 4.2 Percent - Friday, January 04, 2013

Discount retailer Fred’s Inc. said Thursday revenue at stores open at least a year fell 4.2 percent last month as shoppers spent less money on fears about the economy.

The company also lowered its fourth-quarter earnings expectations.

12. Fred’s Sales Metric Falls 3.6 Percent in November - Friday, November 30, 2012

Fred’s Inc. reported Thursday that its sales fell for November due to intense competition over the Thanksgiving weekend and the effect of the company’s increasingly popular layaway deals, which get reported later.

13. Oil Rises as Americans' Confidence Improves - Monday, November 12, 2012

The price of oil rose Friday on a report that shows Americans’ perception of the economy is improving.

Benchmark crude was up 48 cents to $85.57 midday Friday.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index reveals that Americans feel better about the state of the world’s largest economy than any point in the last five years.

14. Storm Leads Companies to Postpone Earnings Reports - Tuesday, October 30, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – A number of major U.S. companies postponed quarterly earnings reports scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, as Hurricane Sandy barreled into the East Coast and caused the first unplanned shutdown of financial markets since 2001.

15. September Sales Figure Drops 3.8 Percent at Fred's - Friday, October 05, 2012

Discount-store operator Fred’s Inc. said Thursday that a key revenue figure fell 3.8 percent in September, hurt by a shift of drug sales from name brand to generic in its pharmacy department.

16. Retailers Report Slower Sales Growth in September - Friday, October 05, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans may have slowed their spending in September after splurging during the start of the busy back-to-school shopping season in the month before. But most importantly, they were still spending.

17. Fred's September Sales Figure Drops - Thursday, October 04, 2012

Memphis-based discount-store operator Fred's Inc. said Thursday that a key revenue figure fell 3.8 percent in September, hurt by a shift of drug sales from name brand to generic in its pharmacy department.

18. Small Companies Borrow More But are Still Cautious - Wednesday, September 05, 2012

Lending to small businesses rose only slightly in July, another sign that companies are hunkering down because of uncertainty about the economy.

A survey released Tuesday by PayNet, a research firm that tracks loans to small business, shows that lending rose 3 percent after falling five out of the previous six months. The Thomson Reuters/PayNet Small Business Lending Index rose to 103.8 in July from a revised 100.5 in June.

19. Fred's August Revenue Falls 2.8 Percent - Friday, August 31, 2012

Discount-store operator Fred’s Inc. said Thursday that a key revenue figure fell 2.8 percent in August, but the company said sales picked up a bit at the end of the month because of back-to-school shopping.

20. Fred’s, Other Retailers Report Tepid Sales - Friday, July 06, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers, worried about jobs and the overall economy, pulled back on spending in June, resulting in tepid sales for many retailers, including Memphis-based Fred’s Inc.

21. Study: Small Business Lending Picked Up in June - Tuesday, July 03, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Lending to small businesses is recovering after a four-month decline.

A study released Monday by PayNet, a research firm that tracks loans to small businesses, shows that lending rose 12 percent in May from April's levels. That's the largest increase since June 2009, when the economy was pulling out of the recession.

22. US Consumer Sentiment at Lowest Level for Year - Monday, July 02, 2012

A measure of U.S. consumer sentiment fell in June to the lowest level for 2012, dragged down by a sluggish job market and weak growth.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan index of consumer sentiment fell to 73.2 in June from 79.3 in May. Higher-income households said they planned to cut back on spending, accounting for much of the drop.

23. Will Shoppers' Increased Spending in May Last? - Friday, June 01, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans loosened their purse strings in May, but it may have been a temporary splurge.

Some major retailers such as Target and Macy's on Thursday posted sales increases that beat Wall Street estimates as shoppers were lured in by Mother's Day promotions and colorful new styles of clothing. The gains follow a dismal showing from the month before

24. US Filings for Unemployment Aid at a 5-Week High - Friday, June 01, 2012

WASHINGTON (AP) – The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to a five-week high, evidence that the job market remains sluggish.

The Labor Department said Thursday that weekly applications for unemployment aid rose 10,000 to a seasonally adjusted 383,000. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, increased for the first time in a month to 374,500.

25. Americans Grew Gloomier About the Economy in May - Wednesday, May 30, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans grew much gloomier about the economy in May, causing a critical measure of consumer confidence to suffer its biggest decline in eight months and ending a period of steady optimism.

26. April Retail Sales Worst Since 2009 - Friday, May 04, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans' spending – much like the economy – continues to yo-yo.

Major retailers such as Costco and Macy's reported on Thursday that April revenue rose less that 1 percent in the worst performance since 2009 when the U.S. economy was just coming out of a bad recession.

27. Fred's April Key Revenue Metric Dips 0.3 Percent - Friday, May 04, 2012

Discount store operator Fred’s Inc. said Thursday, May 3, that its April revenue at stores open at least a year edged down 0.3 percent, missing Wall Street’s forecast.

Analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expected an increase of 0.6 percent.

28. Fred’s Sales Figure Flat in March - Friday, April 06, 2012

Discount store operator Fred’s Inc. said Thursday, April 5, that March sales at stores open at least a year was flat from the same month a year ago. The results missed Wall Street expectations.

29. Retailers Report Positive March Sales - Friday, April 06, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Retailers from discounter Target to department-store chain Macy's reported better-than-expected sales in March in the latest sign that Americans are feeling better about the economy.

30. Walgreen Revenue Figure Falls 4.6 Percent - Tuesday, March 06, 2012

Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said Monday, March 5, its monthly revenue from stores open at least a year slipped again in February, as a split with Express Scripts Inc. and a weak flu season continued to hurt business.

31. Key Revenue Measure Falls 4.6 Pct at Walgreen - Monday, February 06, 2012

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Walgreen Co. said Friday that January revenue from stores open at least a year fell 4.6 percent, as a split with Express Scripts Inc. and a weak flu season hurt business for the largest U.S. drugstore chain.

32. Retailers Deliver Solid Sales Gains for January - Friday, February 03, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans were shopping in January, but not every store was feeling the love.

Retailers reported mixed sales results for the month in a sign that U.S. consumers continue to be cautious about when and where they spend their money in the shaky economy

33. Fred's Same-Store Sales Fall 0.8 Percent in Jan. - Friday, February 03, 2012

Discount store operator Fred’s Inc. said Thursday, Feb. 2, that revenue at stores open at least a year fell by 0.8 percent in January, as its customers continued to struggle in the midst of a weak job market.

34. Macy's Raises Profit Outlook; Doubles Dividend - Friday, January 06, 2012

CINCINNATI (AP) – Macy's Inc. is raising its earnings outlook for the fourth quarter and full year due to a strong holiday season and says it will double its quarterly dividend to 20 cents a share. The retailer is also increasing its share repurchase program by $1 billion.

35. Target Cuts Outlook After Dec. Misses Expectations - Friday, January 06, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Target lowered its earnings expectations Thursday following a disappointing December, with consumers waiting until the last minute to shop as well as weak sales of electronics.

36. Retailers Report Solid Finale to Holidays - Friday, January 06, 2012

NEW YORK (AP) – Many retailers are reporting solid sales gains for December, capping a decent holiday season, but shoppers bent on discounts exacted a high price.

Merchants had to mark down coats and other gifts to get shoppers to buy in a challenging economy. A mild winter also didn't help, wilting shoppers' appetite for cold-weather merchandise. That resulted in a string of retailers, including Target Corp., Kohl's Corp., J.C. Penney Co. and The Children's Place Retail Stores Inc., reducing their earnings outlooks.

37. Fred's Key December Revenue Figure Edges Down - Friday, January 06, 2012

MEMPHIS (AP) – Discount store operator Fred's Inc. said Thursday that sales in stores open at least a year slipped by 0.4 percent in December, slowed by unseasonably warm weather.

38. Fred's Key Revenue Figure Up 1.5 Percent in November - Friday, December 02, 2011

Memphis-based discount store operator Fred’s Inc. said Thursday, Dec. 1, that revenue in stores open at least one year rose 1.5 percent in November because more people came into its stores.

But analysts expected a larger 1.9 percent rise, according to Thomson Reuters.

39. Retailers Report Solid Sales Gains in October - Friday, November 04, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans were shopping in October, but they were spending at a slower clip than expected as they faced a barrage of bad economic news.

October revenue at stores open at least a year – an indicator of a retailer's health – rose 3.7 percent, according to the International Council of Shopping Centers' tally of 25 retailers. But 13 of 19 retailers missed Wall Street estimates for October revenue, according to Thomson Reuters. That included big merchants like Macy's, Saks and Target.

40. Fred's Key Revenue Figure Up 1.1 Percent - Friday, October 07, 2011

MEMPHIS (AP) – Discount-store operator Fred's Inc. said Thursday that revenue in stores open at least one year rose 1.1 percent in September, boosted by sales of pet products and household supplies.

41. Walgreen September Sales Rise, But Miss Estimates - Thursday, October 06, 2011

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Walgreen Co. said Wednesday that its sales grew in September, but a key revenue measurement fell short of Wall Street expectations because of lower demand for flu shots and a mild cold season.

42. Tenure on Non-Existent Committee Expires - Thursday, September 22, 2011

Last month, the American Bar Association had its annual meeting in Toronto. Some 7,000 lawyers, judges and other legal professionals attended the meeting. I was not among them.

According to a Thomson Reuters news report, “The meeting got under way Thursday [Aug. 4], with judicial election reform and legal education high on the agenda.” The ABA was also going to consider various issues involved with judicial recusals, law student debt and job placement.

43. Survey: Consumer Confidence Ticks Up in September - Monday, September 19, 2011

U.S. consumers were slightly more confident in the economy in September, but are increasingly worried about the future.

The Thomson Reuters/University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index inched up to 57.8 in September from 55.7 in August, according to a Reuters report. The August reading was the lowest since November 2008. Friday, Sept. 16’s report is a preliminary reading.

44. Walgreen Says Express Scripts Talks are Stalled - Wednesday, September 07, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Drugstore chain Walgreen Co. reiterated Tuesday that it plans to stop filling prescriptions managed by Express Scripts Inc. on Jan. 1, saying contract renewal negotiations between the companies are stalled.

45. Target's Key Revenue Figure Up 4.1 Pct. in Aug. - Friday, September 02, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Target Corp.'s revenue at stores open at least a year climbed 4.1 percent in August, driven by back-to-school shopping. The results announced Thursday topped Wall Street's forecast.

46. Fred's Sales Rise on Back-to-School, Pharmacy - Friday, September 02, 2011

MEMPHIS (AP) – Discount retailer Fred's Inc. said Thursday its revenue at stores open at least a year rose 1.6 percent in August as more customers bought up school supplies and filled prescriptions.

47. Retailers Report Solid Sales Gains for July - Friday, August 05, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Many retailers posted solid sales during the kickoff to the back-to-school season as discounts and high temperatures in July drove shoppers to air-conditioned malls. But merchants worry that momentum won't continue through the remainder of the second-biggest shopping period of the year as the weather gets cold and the deals dry up.

48. Walgreen July Sales Rise, Key Measurement Improves - Thursday, August 04, 2011

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Walgreen Co., the biggest drugstore chain in the U.S., on Wednesday reported July sales that were slightly better than Wall Street expected.

49. Morgan Keegan Mentioned in National Ranking - Friday, July 29, 2011

Memphis-based Morgan Keegan & Co. Inc. was the eighth leading underwriter of negotiated municipal bond issues in the country in the first six months of 2011, according to Thomson Reuters.

50. Consumer Confidence Rises in July - Wednesday, July 27, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) — Two years into the recovery, Americans' confidence in the economy continues its rollercoaster ride.

As their short-term outlook on jobs and income eased somewhat amid a mix of optimistic and bad economic news, U.S. consumers' confidence rose slightly to 59.5 in July, according to a survey released Tuesday by a private research group.

51. Fred's Inc. Sees Fall in June Revenue - Friday, July 08, 2011

Discount retailer Fred’s Inc. said Thursday, July 7, that its June revenue at stores open at least a year edged down 0.7 percent, falling short of Wall Street expectations. The company said it now expects its second-quarter net income to land in the lower half of its forecast range because its revenue was lower than expected in both May and June.

52. Builders Start More Homes but Pace Still Slow - Friday, June 17, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. builders broke ground on more new homes in May, but not enough to signal a recovery in the troubled housing market.

Home construction rose 3.5 percent from April to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 560,000 units per year, the Commerce Department said Thursday.

53. Target Raises Quarterly Dividend Ahead of Meeting - Thursday, June 09, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Target Corp. raised its quarterly dividend by 5 cents to 30 cents, a 20 percent increase, as it sought to placate investors after a 22 percent decline in its stock price this year.

54. Walgreen Revenue Metric Rises 5.6 Percent in May - Monday, June 06, 2011

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – A key revenue measurement rose 5.6 percent at Walgreen Co. in May, the drugstore chain said Friday, better than Wall Street expected.

55. Pinched by Gas, Shoppers Pull Back Elsewhere - Friday, June 03, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers are showing signs of pulling back on spending on discretionary items like clothing and home goods as gasoline and groceries eat up more of their paychecks.

Those pressures led many retailers on Thursday to report only modest revenue increases in May, the latest sign of the economy hitting a soft patch.

56. Home-Price Index Falls to Lowest Point Since 2002 - Wednesday, June 01, 2011

WASHINGTON (AP) – An index of home prices in big metro areas has reached its lowest level since 2002, driven down by foreclosures, a glut of unsold homes and the reluctance or inability of many to buy.

57. Fred's April Revenue Figure Rises Slightly - Friday, May 06, 2011

MEMPHIS (AP) – Fred's Inc. said Thursday that April revenue at locations open at least a year rose 1.8 percent, below analysts' expectations for the discount store operator as the company's stores faced severe weather in the Southeast.

58. Walgreen Key April Revenue Metric Rises - Thursday, May 05, 2011

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said Wednesday a key measure of revenue rose in April, but the growth was slightly below Wall Street expectations.

59. Shopper Spending Surprisingly Strong in March - Friday, April 08, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – Shoppers shrugged off higher gas prices and cool temperatures to give retailers a surprisingly solid March.

Revenue reports Thursday from retailers from Costco to Victoria's Secret extend the streak of strong spending from late last year and suggest that an improving economy and recent job growth are outweighing pressure from higher pump prices.

60. Slow Start to Spring Projected for Retailers - Thursday, April 07, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – A late Easter, lingering cold weather and rising gas prices are squeezing discretionary spending this spring, according to data being released Wednesday.

Figures from MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse show sales growth slowed in some categories last month. But consumers spent more on clothing – and most other items from electronics to luxury goods – than they did in March 2010.

61. Walgreen March Sales Top Wall Street Estimates - Wednesday, April 06, 2011

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Walgreen Co. sales rose in March as the largest U.S. drugstore chain filled more prescriptions and its customers spent more money.

62. Target February Revenue Figure Up 1.8 Percent - Friday, March 04, 2011

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Target said Thursday that a key revenue figure rose 1.8 percent for February, helped by sales of fresh food and by shoppers with its branded cards taking advantage of a 5 percent discount, but the results missed analyst expectations.

63. Walgreen's Key February Revenue Metric Rises - Friday, March 04, 2011

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said Thursday a key measure of revenue rose in February, but the growth was slightly below Wall Street expectations.

64. Dollar Signs - Monday, February 21, 2011

From wealth management to accounting to investment firms, plenty of financial services companies in Memphis are enjoying a robust level of growth that might seem surprising to an outsider.

Yet it’s clear the economic recovery is well under way, and companies with strong fundamentals are reaping rewards.

65. Walgreen January Sales Rise, Top Key Measure - Friday, February 04, 2011

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Drugstore operator Walgreen Co. said Thursday that its sales increased in January, topping a key sales measurement monitored by Wall Street.

66. Retailers Report Surprisingly Solid January Sales - Friday, February 04, 2011

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. retailers reported surprisingly solid January revenue gains Thursday that swept away fears that snowstorms in much of the country had chilled sales.

The reports, which are being compared with a respectable January 2010, offer encouraging signs that consumer spending is maintaining the momentum of the strong holiday season.

67. Retail Rebound? - Monday, December 27, 2010

Retail sales are looking bright this year, a sign that the pendulum of consumer confidence is swinging back in the right direction.

Holiday sales are anticipated to increase a modest 3.3 percent this year – adjusted from 2.3 percent in November – according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). This year’s uptick follows 2008’s 3.9 percent decline and also tops the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 2.5 percent.

68. Walgreen 1Q Profit Jumps 18.8 Percent - Thursday, December 23, 2010

Walgreen Co., the largest drugstore operator in the U.S., said Wednesday that its net income jumped 19 percent in the fiscal first quarter as it continued to remodel thousands of stores and promotions were more successful.

69. Holiday Shoppers Sprint to End; Retail Revenue Up - Thursday, December 23, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Holiday shoppers are racing to the end of the season at a more feverish pace this year, with retail revenue up 5.5 percent during the last weekend before Christmas.

The figure, released by ShopperTrak on Wednesday, is a drastic improvement from the same weekend last year, when revenue dropped 6.2 percent. The final shopping weekend last year was marred by a big East Coast snowstorm.

70. Nucor Expects 4Q Loss of 10 to 15 Cents per Share - Friday, December 17, 2010

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Steel maker Nucor Corp. expects to lose money in the fourth quarter as material costs rose and demand from construction markets remained weak.

71. Weak TV, Laptop Sales Hurt Best Buy 3Q Profit - Wednesday, December 15, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Best Buy Co.'s third-quarter net income fell more than expected as it lost sales of TVs and laptops to competitors. It also cut its full-year outlook Tuesday.

72. Auto Parts Chain AutoZone Profit Jumps 20 Percent - Tuesday, December 07, 2010

MEMPHIS (AP) – Net income at AutoZone rose 20 percent during the first quarter, the company said Tuesday, as many people continued to sink money into repairing older cars rather than buying new ones.

73. Walgreen November Revenue Surpasses Expectations - Monday, December 06, 2010

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Walgreen Co., the largest U.S. drugstore chain, said Friday sales at stores open at least a year climbed 3.2 percent in November, more than Wall Street analysts expected.

74. Grocer Kroger Rings Up Q3 Profit - Friday, December 03, 2010

CINCINNATI (AP) – Kroger Co. rang up better sales and returned to third-quarter profitability behind a focus on building customer loyalty in a rough economy, but the nation's largest traditional grocery operator says shoppers remain cautious.

75. Dillard's Key Nov. Revenue Figure Up, Tops Street - Friday, December 03, 2010

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – Dillard's Inc. said Thursday that revenue at stores open at least a year rose 8 percent in November, benefiting from strong sales of shoes and juniors' and children's clothing.

76. Target November Sales Figure Beats Expectations - Friday, December 03, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Discount retailer Target Corp. said Thursday more shoppers came to its stores in November and spent more than a year earlier, helping a key revenue figure rise 5.5 percent during the month, more than expected.

77. Holiday Shoppers Came Out to Spend in November - Friday, December 03, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Generous discounts lured American to stores and online for holiday gifts in November, providing cheer and delivering the best gains for retailers in four years.

That raises hopes, already buoyed by reports of crowded malls and early numbers, for a strong holiday shopping season and is an encouraging sign for the economic recovery.

78. Optimism for 2011 Pushes Consumer Confidence Higher - Wednesday, December 01, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans’ confidence in the economy rose to a five-month high in November, showing increased optimism for the first half of next year.

The report offered some comfort to the nation’s retailers during the holiday shopping season, but shoppers still remain downbeat as they grapple with a high unemployment rate. Moreover, the latest report on housing, released Tuesday, showed that home prices weakened in September.

79. Earnings Preview: Kroger Co. - Wednesday, December 01, 2010

CINCINNATI (AP) – The Kroger Co., the nation's largest traditional-format grocer, reports its third-quarter results before the stock market opens Thursday.

80. Medtronic Q2 Profit Falls 35 Percent on Costs - Wednesday, November 24, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Medtronic’s fiscal second-quarter net income fell 35 percent as legal and other costs outpaced weak gains in medical device sales, but adjusted results met Wall Street expectations.

81. Fred's Q3 Net Income Up on Better Merchandise Mix - Wednesday, November 24, 2010

Memphis-based Fred’s Inc. said Tuesday that its third-quarter net income surged 56 percent, partly because of its improved merchandise mix and remodeled and upgraded stores.

The discount merchant’s net income rose to $7.8 million, or 20 cents per share, for the period ended Oct. 30. A year ago the company earned $5 million, or 13 cents per share.

82. Fred's Q3 Net Income up on Better Merchandising Mix - Tuesday, November 23, 2010

MEMPHIS (AP) — Fred's Inc. said Tuesday that its third-quarter net income surged 56 percent, partly because of its improved merchandise mix and remodeled and upgraded stores.

83. Medtronic Q2 Profit Falls 35 Percent on Costs - Tuesday, November 23, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Medtronic's fiscal second-quarter net income fell 35 percent as legal and other costs outpaced weak gains in medical device sales, but adjusted results met Wall Street expectations.

84. Health Insurer Humana Forecasts 2011 Earnings Drop - Friday, November 19, 2010

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) – Health insurer Humana Inc. said Thursday it expects its 2011 earnings per share to fall by about a dollar from this year due to its Medicare Advantage program and medical cost trends, among other factors.

85. Sears Q3 Loss Widens on Poor Appliance, Clothing Sales - Friday, November 19, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Sears Holdings Corp.'s third-quarter loss nearly doubled, dragged down by weak revenue at its long-suffering Sears chain, hurt by poor sales of appliances and clothing.

86. Target Predicts Happier Holiday Shopping Season - Thursday, November 18, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Target Corp. is projecting a merry holiday as the discounter counts on a 5 percent discount for its credit and debit card customers and its storewide remodeling

87. Wal-Mart Q3 Profit Rises; Pressure Still on in US - Wednesday, November 17, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Wal-Mart Stores Inc. reported a 9.3 percent increase in third-quarter net income as the world's largest retailer benefited from cost controls and a robust international business. The company also raised its full-year profit outlook.

88. Local Push Puts Macy's Back in Black in Q3 - Thursday, November 11, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Macy's Inc. turned a profit in the third quarter after a loss a year ago, boosted by tailoring merchandise to local markets and higher spending from wealthier customers at its Bloomingdale's chain.

89. Starbucks: 4th-Quarter Net Income Nearly Doubles - Monday, November 08, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – As more people visited Starbucks cafes and spent more at the end of summer, the company's fourth-quarter net income nearly doubled, handily beating estimates, and the company raised its target Thursday for fiscal 2011 profit.

90. Target Key Revenue Figure Rises 1.7 Pct in Oct. - Friday, November 05, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Target Corp. said a key revenue figure rose 1.7 percent in October, slightly better than expected.

91. Costco's Key Revenue Figure Rises in October - Friday, November 05, 2010

ISSAQUAH, Wash. (AP) – Costco Wholesale Corp.'s revenue at stores open at least a year climbed 6 percent in October as international results improved in part because of the weaker dollar.

92. Heavy Discounts Fuel Only Modest Retail Gains - Friday, November 05, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Americans took a pause in shopping in October, leaving retailers with their weakest peformance since April as unsually warm weather depressed their appetite for cold weather items.

93. Scripps Networks Profit Jumps on Ad Revenue - Friday, November 05, 2010

KNOXVILLE (AP) – Scripps Networks Interactive Inc., which runs the Travel Channel, Food Network, and other cable channels, said on Thursday that its third-quarter profit jumped 55.7 percent on surging advertising revenue, beating analyst expectations.

94. CVS Caremark Profit Falls 21 Percent in Q3 - Thursday, November 04, 2010

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (AP) – CVS Caremark Corp. reported a 21 percent drop in third-quarter profit Wednesday as its pharmacy benefit unit continued losing business from previously canceled contracts.

95. Walgreen October Revenue Misses Estimates - Thursday, November 04, 2010

DEERFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Walgreen Co. said Wednesday that same-store revenue slipped 1.3 percent in October, more than Wall Street expected.

96. Norfolk Southern Q3 Profit Soars as Shipments Rise - Thursday, October 28, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Norfolk Southern Corp. said Wednesday that a slowly improving economy, cost controls and higher prices drove third-quarter earnings up 47 percent.

97. Comcast Drives Growth With Pricier Bundles - Thursday, October 28, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) – Comcast Corp., the country's biggest cable TV company, continues to generate more money by attracting customers to pricier bundles of TV, Internet and phone service – even as a sluggish economy hampers efforts to sign up new subscribers.

98. Trustmark Boosts Q3 Earnings 15 Percent - Thursday, October 28, 2010

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Regional banking company Trustmark Corp. said it posted a 15 percent increase in third-quarter profit as the company while making progress in reducing its exposure in Florida.

99. BancorpSouth Q3 Profit Down, But Beats Forecasts - Wednesday, October 27, 2010

TUPELO, Miss. (AP) — Regional banker BancorpSouth Inc. watched its third-quarter earnings drop 47 percent as troubled loans grew, but the profit still handily beat analysts' forecasts, the company reported.

100. Consumer Confidence Rises Slightly in October - Wednesday, October 27, 2010

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans’ confidence in the economy stayed stuck in gloomy territory in October, with Wall Street’s gains in recent months not boosting spirits much.

Coaxing shoppers out of their shells will be the major challenge for retailers heading into the holiday season. That could mean they’ll be continuing to push big discounts.