VENTURE CAPITAL POST

Losses exceeding $700,000 in individual cases due to refund fraud were owed to platforms like TikTok and Telegram, where these schemes were promoted.

With gloomy holiday forecasts from retailers, a wave of caution fills the Black Friday shopping air.

Designers Victoria Beckham and Diane von Furstenberg headline Singapore's celebrity-studded fashion week in May, putting the spotlight on a new partnership with a U.S. industry group that promotes homegrown talent and designer labels.

Shoppers filled up malls and department stores on the last weekend before Christmas, as the weather cooperated to help raise the prospect of a solid finish to a holiday season that has so far produced mixed results.

Amarilis Sinchi visited Macy's at a New Jersey mall on Black Friday, but she waited until this week to purchase the red fleece pajamas she had her eye on.

Most U.S. retailers reported strong sales in October, a sign American consumers were spending with more gusto and could help keep the economy growing at a brisk pace.

An improving U.S. economy has failed to galvanize the consumer discretionary sector so far this year, but a recent rally in restaurant stocks as the holidays approach could herald happier days ahead for other retailers.

While shoppers in the UK and the US spent more for the holidays this year, the profit margin for retailers remains in doubt due to steep discounts, the Financial Times reported.

In spite of the steep price cuts offered, consumers in the US did not do a lot of shopping in brick-and-mortar stores on the weekend before Christmas, Reuters reported.

Retailers are going to be ramping up efforts to lure buyers on the final weekend leading up to Christmas but shoppers intend to spend less, Reuters reported.

WalMart, Sears, Macy's and other retailers are now doing their best to increase sales for the coming Christmas season.

European retailers had been looking to get more profit through online food businesses as the grocery segment make up around 40% of retail sales.