Latest Business and Retail Market Trends Update

Corporate and Market Developments

Morgan Stanley's talks to unload its commodities business are heating up again after months of fruitless negotiations with potential buyers.

Retail and Consumer Insights

• Small Business Wellness: Manta’s Q3 index surveyed owners regarding holiday retail marketing plans.
• Customer Service: Steve Williams, MD of customer flow management firm Qmatic, shares strategies to improve service this Christmas.
• Etsy Growth: Etsy, a website for handmade and vintage goods, has sold more than $1 billion in merchandise this year as customers increasingly view products on mobile devices.
• Wireless Rankings: Print tumbled to last place in this year's Consumer Reports rankings for U.S. wireless service providers.

Economic and Regulatory News

• R&D Expenditures: According to the National Science Foundation (NSF), state government agency expenditures for research and development totaled $1.4 billion in FY 2011, an 11 percent increase over FY 2010.
• Legal Actions: Mitsubishi Electric Australia has been referred to the Federal Court by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission over a price-fixing row.
• Wholesale Trends: U.S. wholesale prices fell in October for the second straight month, driven by cheaper gasoline. Meanwhile, over a dozen Cuban state-run businesses have been authorized to begin selling goods wholesale to selected buyers.
• Regulatory Fees: In Manila, the Securities and Exchange Commission plans to substantially hike its transaction fees and charges.
• Lottery Oversight: The commission for the South Dakota Lottery met with business owners to discuss the future of video lottery.

Pricing and Innovation Strategies

• Holiday Price Wars: Walmart and other retailers are preparing for a fierce Black Friday price war.
• GM Promotions: General Motors is running a Black Friday sales promotion for nearly two weeks, offering discounted prices to the public.
• Market Dynamics: Technology has replaced the middleman, creating new opportunities for consumers to interact with brands.
• Financial Markets: The VSTOXX has been falling in a steady fashion since 2011, supported by European Central Bank interventions.
• Retail Optimization: Clear Demand announced markdown price optimization innovations for omni-channel retailers.
• SEO Strategy: Smart marketers identified structured data markup as a vital component of SEO strategy in 2012 and 2013.
• Innovation Funding: The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) is preparing to inject £50 million into five innovation centres to foster university-business research partnerships.