By Alexandria Sage

COSTA MESA, Calif. (Reuters) – Nike Inc(NKE.N: Quote, Profile, Research) is looking to double its piece of the action — the action-sports market, that is.

The company, which helped build running into a mainstream sport, expects sales at its action-sports unit — specializing in surfing, skateboarding and other “edgy” sports — to double to $1.2 billion within five years, the chief executive of the shoe and apparel giant said on Friday.

COSTA MESA, California (Reuters) – Nike Inc (NKE.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) is looking to double its piece of the action — the action-sports market, that is.

The company, which helped build running into a mainstream sport, expects sales at its action-sports unit — specializing in surfing, skateboarding and other “edgy” sports — to double to $1.2 billion within five years, the chief executive of the shoe and apparel giant said on Friday.

, Aug 6 (Reuters) – Nike Inc (NKE.N: Quote, Profile, Research)
expects sales at its unit that sells products for surf, skate
and other edgy sports will double to $1.2 billion from $600
million within five years, the shoe and apparel giant’s chief
executive said on Friday.

“We’re quite bullish on that growth prospect,” Chief
Executive Mark Parker told Reuters, speaking from the offices
of its surf brand Hurley. Parker was in Southern California for
the U.S. Open of Surfing, held in the nearby beach town of
Huntington Beach, which Nike sponsors.

5 (Reuters) – Warnaco Group Inc (WRC.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz)
on Thursday posted a higher second-quarter net profit, helped
by fatter gross margins and the success of a Calvin Klein
underwear launch, and the apparel maker raised its 2010
outlook.

The company owns and licenses brands including Calvin Klein
jeans, Chaps and Speedo, and has been expanding
internationally, with Latin America and Asia key areas of
growth for the apparel maker, which also operates stores.

SEATTLE (Reuters) – Amazon.com launched a cheaper, wireless-only Kindle on Wednesday, betting that the $139 price will turn its latest electronic reader into a mass-appeal device as Apple Inc’s iPad gains ground.

The world’s largest online retailer and leading e-reader seller also revealed its third generation Kindle, some 21 percent smaller and 15 percent lighter than the previous version, but still priced at $189.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Amazon.com said its best-selling Kindle device was currently out of stock, leading one Internet analyst to surmise the online retailer was poised to launch a new version.

On its website on Wednesday, the world’s largest Web retailer posted a “temporarily out of stock” notice next to its $189 Kindle, the much talked-about e-reader that Amazon says is the best selling item on its site.

SAN FRANCISCO, July 28 (Reuters) – Amazon.com (AMZN.O: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said
its best-selling Kindle device was currently out of stock,
leading one Internet analyst to surmise the online retailer was
poised to launch a new version.

On its website on Wednesday, the world’s largest Web
retailer posted a “temporarily out of stock” notice next to its
$189 Kindle, the much talked-about e-reader that Amazon says is
the best selling item on its site.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – A nonprofit environmental group has sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, claiming the agency failed to regulate toxic chemicals found in “antimicrobial” soap and other personal care products.

The National Resources Defense Council alleges that two common ingredients, triclosan and triclocarban, can damage reproductive organs, sperm quality and the production of thyroid and sex hormones. It also names U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as a defendant.

BOOTHVILLE, Louisiana (Reuters) – Swindlers, scammers and even a few strippers are flocking to the Gulf Coast in search of a piece of the $20 billion BP Plc has set aside to compensate residents for spill-related losses.

Adjusters passing out emergency funds in Louisiana and other Gulf Coast states are on high alert for fraud even as they pay out legitimate claims following the April 20 oil rig explosion and spill that killed 11 workers and devastated the livelihoods of many fishermen, tourism workers and others.

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) – Amazon.com Inc’s quarterly profit fell far short of Wall Street estimates, hurt by a 40 percent jump in expenses and by price cuts on its Kindle electronic reader, sending its shares down 14 percent.

The largest global online retailer spent more than investors had expected on everything from new staff to fulfillment centers, as it takes a bigger bite out of the traditional retail industry led by the likes of Wal-Mart Stores Inc.