Feb 12 (Reuters) – Avon Products Inc’s business
showed signs of life in the last three months of 2012 as the
struggling beauty company sold more items, attracted more sales
representatives and cut marketing and personnel costs.

Avon grappled earlier in the year with the loss of many of
its “Avon Ladies” sales representatives, unhappy with their
earning potential and the weak support they received from the
company. Meantime, sales stalled in key emerging markets such as
Russia and Brazil, and continued to deteriorate in the United
States.

Feb 7 (Reuters) – Many top U.S. retailers on Thursday
reported strong January sales after offering compelling
merchandise that drew in shoppers facing a hit to their
take-home pay from higher payroll taxes.

Macy’s Inc said sales at stores open at least a year
rose 11.7 percent last month, easily beating forecasts, as the
company benefited from its speed in getting new merchandise into
its stores.

Feb 7 (Reuters) – Several U.S. retailers reported mixed
January sales results on Thursday, as consumers faced a hit to
their take-home pay from higher payroll taxes, while cold
weather may have helped spur purchases of winter clothes.

Costco Wholesale Corp said January sales at stores
open at least a year, or same-store sales, rose 4 percent,
slightly ahead of Wall Street projections for a 3.9 percent
gain.

By Phil Wahba

(Reuters) – J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Chief Executive Ron Johnson still thinks the department store operator will return to growth in 2013 despite severe sales declines in fiscal 2012, he told CNBC in an interview on Wednesday.

Penney, which operates 1,100 department stores, began a turnaround a year ago that called for the elimination of most coupons and sales events, along with a four-year transformation of its 700 largest stores into a collection of 100 shops in each store for brands like Levi’s and PVH Corp’s (PVH.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) Izod.

By Phil Wahba

(Reuters) – Both Ralph Lauren Corp’s (RL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) holiday quarter results on Wednesday and its early sales forecast for next year pointed to renewed momentum for the fashion company after a rough patch in 2012, sending shares to their highest levels since May.

The company cited strong demand in the Americas and an improvement in Europe, its second biggest market, as well as its fast growing e-commerce business. It forecast sales growth would accelerate in the fiscal year starting in April.

By Phil Wahba

(Reuters) – Estée Lauder Cos Inc (EL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) on Tuesday raised its full-year profit forecast, pointing to a surge in luxury sales and strong demand in the United States and China that is counteracting weaker markets like southern Europe and South Korea.

Sales in the quarter ended on December 31 rose 7.1 percent to $2.93 billion, with gains in every region, including Europe, where sales in France and Switzerland returned to growth.

Feb 5 (Reuters) – Estée Lauder Cos Inc reported a
higher quarterly profit on Tuesday and raised its full-year
profit forecast while standing by its forecast for sales growth,
pointing to strong demand in the United States and China that is
counteracting weak markets like Southern Europe and South Korea.

Sales in the second quarter ended on Dec. 31 rose 7.1
percent to $2.93 billion, with gains in every region, including
Europe, where sales in France and Switzerland returned to
growth.

Feb 4 (Reuters) – Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, the
world’s second-largest cruise operator, on Monday said that
strong U.S. demand and a jump in bookings so far this year would
help mitigate lingering weakness in Europe in 2013.

The cruise operator gave a revenue forecast that Wall Street
took as the latest sign of improvement after a difficult 2012:
Royal Caribbean expects net yields, which reflect passenger
tickets as well as what customers spend on board, to be up 2
percent to 4 percent this year, excluding currency fluctuations.

Jan 24 (Reuters) – A federal judge on Thursday denied a
request by Signet Jewelers Ltd, parent of Kay Jewelers,
to force arch rival Zale Corp to drop ads touting some
of its diamonds as the world’s most brilliant.

The ruling allows Zale, which operates the Zales chain, to
continue with a campaign begun in the autumn for its Celebration
Fire diamond as it heads into the Valentine’s Day period, the
second most important for a jeweler after the holiday season.

Jan 24 (Reuters) – A federal judge on Thursday denied a
request by Signet Jewelers Ltd, parent of Kay Jewelers,
to force arch rival Zale Corp to drop ads touting some
of its diamonds as the world’s most brilliant.

The ruling allows Zale, which operates the Zales chain, to
continue with a campaign begun in the autumn for its Celebration
Fire diamond as it heads into the Valentine’s Day period, the
second most important for a jeweler after the holiday season.