As Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, and JP Morgan Chase are amongst the first banks expected to pay back the TARP, the S&P Financials have been leading the charge since this rally began.  But which banks have been the best performers of late?   Read More

No doubt General Growth Properties' bankruptcy filing will have far-reaching implications for commercial real estate. The bankruptcy, which is said to be the largest real-estate failure in U.S. history, will further pressure already stressed property values for U.S. malls and mall mortgages and spark further consolidation.   Read More

Who knew bad research was comparable to the defamation of classic art?   Read More

So far retail sales in February are looking a lot better than in January, but that doesn't mean retailers are out of the woods yet. Still, a turnaround could be in the works for the middle of next year, says one analyst.    Read More

The visible signs of the carnage in the retail sector will soon be too hard for many to ignore. The International Council of Shopping Centers projects 148,000 retail stores will be shuttered in 2008, and another 73,000 stores will close in the first half of this year. If those estimates prove correct, the number of closures last year will be the highest since at least 2001, and this year, closures will be on track for a similarly brisk pace.    Read More

Following are the day’s biggest winners and losers. Find out why shares of McDonald’s and US Bancorp popped while Cash America and Coach dropped.   Read More

The Dow slid on Monday after Kuwait pulled out of a joint venture with Dow Chemical due to the deepening global recession, threatening Dow's planned takeover of Rohm & Haas.   Read More