Apple hires Dixons CEO as new retail chief, while iPad sales propel Apple to top of PC market over HP. Apple patent challenger Samsung, meanwhile, faces EU inquiry.

AT&T names new strategy officer in management shuffle.

Bang & Olufsen debuts cheaper line of high-tech gadgets.

Belstaff brings luxury leather jackets to London and New York with dual flagships.

BSKyB to start movie service rivaling Netflix.

BlackBerry-maker RIM posts corporate governance report indicating why co-CEO role was scrapped.

Carrefour names yet another CEO in turnaround struggle.Continue reading...

Young residents of India, meet the Billy bookcase. The ubiquitous Billy, made by Ikea, is poised to continue its march across the world’s living rooms into India, the world’s second most populated country.

Up until last week, non-Indian-owned companies such as Ikea couldn’t be found in India — although they were free to help locals, as the Ikea Foundation has been doing for a few years. A vote Tuesday now allows foreign companies full ownership of stores selling a single brand, a shift from the 51 percent ownership that had been voted on in November, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

Single branders such as Ikea and Starbucks can now move on into India’s $400 billion retail market, while multibrand retailers such as Walmart and  Carrefour have to watch from the sidelines. The BBC notes that those single branders that make their way into India do have to do one thing: “They are required to buy 30% of their goods from domestic small industries.”.Continue reading...

Apple still sees consumer demand for iPhone 3GS.

AT&T warns blocking T-Mobile deal will lead to higher prices.

Amazon provokes retailers with new price-check app.

Banana Republic opens Paris flagship.

Bill Gates rumored to consider returning to Microsoft.

Billabong uses augmented reality in new campaign.

Carrefour mulls merger with French supermarket chain.

Dean & Deluca expands from New York to Singapore.

Jamba Juice to tap into schools market with self-serve units.

Ford to restart dividend after five years.

GM CEO Dan Akerson acts aggressively to staunch Volt damage.Continue reading...

It will be at least five years and perhaps longer before foreign retailers make one cent of profit in India, where the fact that it has the second largest population in the world consistently gives hope to anyone looking to make a buck.

Unfortunately, making a buck in India isn’t easy, thanks to the extremely bumpy supply chain as well as political and cultural pressures, according to Bloomberg.

“Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Carrefour SA waited seven years for access to India’s $400 billion retail market,” Bloomberg notes. “They may have to wait almost as long to make a profit” there.

What’s the problem? Or, more to the point, what isn't the problem?Continue reading...

AMC considers reality shows to complement Mad Men and Breaking Bad.

BP and Shell plan to resume oil exploration in Libya.

Boeing hopes rise for union accord that would end labor struggle.

CBS is upbeat about TV business in 2012.

Citigroup announces cuts of additional 4,500 jobs.

Daimler loses value with investors relative to BMW as the two companies race to finish in U.S. luxury-car sales for 2011 and as Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand plans big boost in U.S. output.

Darden cuts forecast due to Olive Garden woes.Continue reading...

American Airlines parent AMR bankruptcy could foist huge losses on key creditors.

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs honored with exhibition highlighting his patents and trademarks.

AT&T blasts federal critique of T-Mobile deal, as AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile deal with Carrier IQ privacy concerns.

Barnes & Noble continues to struggle financially with digital transition.

Chili's drives menu changes and sales with retrofit.

Disney raises dividend to highest level in 20 years.

Fiat closes plant as European demand falls.

GM offers to buy back Volt from owners.Continue reading...

Air Canada avoids strike for now; hits union with labor-board unfair practices complaint.

Apple defeats Samsung in Australian tablet patent case; prepares to offer movies over the "cloud."

Carrefour cuts its profit targets.

Citigroup's Vikram Panda ready to talk with Occupy Wall Street protesters; calls their concerns "completely understandable."

JPMorgan profits sink.Continue reading...

Apple knock-off stores in Queens, NY, forced to surrender goods, while Apple's HTC patent victory gets US review.

NHL restricts players from social media on game days under new policy.

Borders starts shutting down in California.

Carrefour plans drive-in stores in France.

eBay targets hip mobile shoppers with new campaign.

Esprit pays the price for 'neglecting' its brand.Continue reading...