Luxury is back at the forefront of fashion and lifestyle despite the still shaky worldwide economy.

Findings from the 2013 Harris Poll EquiTrend, show gains in brand equity across 155 categories from auto makers to department stores across three key criteria: Familiarity, Quality and Purchase Consideration.

"This may show that after a number of years spent tightening their belts, consumers are looking to the quality and value they feel these brands provide,” said Aron Galonsky, SVP Brand and Communication Consulting at Harris Interactive.

Mercedes-Benz took top honors in the Luxury Automotive brand category for the third consecutive year, with Acura (which takes on uber-luxury in its latest US TV commercial, below), Audi, BMW, Infiniti and Land Rover receiving their highest scores ever. Harley-Davidson got its highest score in the study's 25-year history regaining top spot as Motorcycle Brand of the Year.Continue reading...

AIG considers suing U.S. government despite federal bailout aid.

J&J sells Roloaids brand to Sanofi.

Samsung caps best year ever.

ABC spurs questions for marketers with move of Jimmy Kimmel's show.

Apple sees CEO Tim Cook make second visit  to China as mainland footprint doubles.

Bacardi snaps up St-Germain liqueur brand.

Bank of America extends retreat from mortgages.Continue reading...

Tesco CEO Philip Clarke told the World Retail Congress in London today that the "tectonic plates are shifting" in retail and residual from financial woes in the euro zone is requiring companies to adopt new technologies or lose their competitive edge.

"We are in the first downturn of the digital age," Clarke stated, adding "consumption is weakening" in China, Thailand and South Korea, regions previously earmarked for growth but reeling from economic turmoil in Europe. "[These economies] are vulnerable to the crisis in the euro zone, as well as inflation caused by high commodity prices.

"Digital technology gives us the opportunity for a warmer, more meaningful conversation with our customers, local communities, our colleagues and the suppliers we work with.” That's why Clarke, who started as Tesco CEO in March 2011, has just launched a corporate blog, Talking Shop, in an effort to build trust and, as he puts it, "explain what we are thinking and how we see the world."

He's not much of a tweeter, though he likes writing bylined op-ed pieces (such as this week's FT column). So why blog?Continue reading...

Barclays CEO resigns as banking scandal spreads.

Best Buy stock rises on speculation of founder takeover.

Chrysler June sales beat estimates for five-year record.

Amazon buys 3D mapping startup.

Apple, Google and Facebook are engaged in a "message" war.

Boeing boosts long-term forecast for jet market, while jumbo jet demand wanes.

Cargill helps food companies reduce sodium.Continue reading...

Fish heads and chicken fat are the latest sources of electricity for major retailers in the U.K. including Walmart, Tesco, Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, William Morrison Supermarkets and Sainsbury.

Not only is bioenergy the evolution of alternative energy sources, but the meat, fish, cooking oils and leftover food would otherwise be transported to landfill at additional cost and fuel consumption.

“Diverting food waste from landfill to anaerobic digestion is a no-brainer for the supermarkets — landfill charges and energy costs are only getting more expensive,” said Niamh McSherry, a food retail analyst at Berenberg Bank, to Bloomberg.Continue reading...

Barclays continues to innovate by taking a leading role in mobile payments in Europe. Having just launched the Pingit mobile payments app, it's now bringing contactless payments to Barclaycard, the UK's first credit card. Now, its 12 million Visa Barclaycard credit card customers can look forward to PayTag, a free sticker that enables mobile contactless transactions at more than 100,000 terminals. 

The easy-to-use PayTag sticker aims to spur the usage use of smartphones for small purchases, increasing the reach of the Quick Tap NFC (Near Field Communication) service the bank operates in partnership with mobile network operator Orange.Continue reading...

Green Bay Packers defend title to win NFL kickoff game, while Bud Light kicks in as NFL sponsor, and Coors Light debuts new campaign.

President Obama presents $447 billion jobs stimulus plan to tough audience.

American Apparel search for plus-size models backfires.

Aquascutum among brands finding new life in China.

Bank of America could shed up to 40,000 jobs.

Facebook complaints can't get an employee fired, judge rules while site adds five languages.

John Galliano  found guilty in anti-racism case.

Glenn Beck launches web TV network.

Google details electricity usage.Continue reading...

Airbnb fetches $1 billion initial value.

Bentley ponders adding SUV.

Borders sees talks to save a few dozen stores fail.

Credit Suisse eyes layoffs.

EA Sports taps into college-football devotion.

Ford reports profit dip due to cost pressures.

GE moves its x-ray headquarters to China.Continue reading...