US stocks mostly up as holiday shopping season begins

NEW YORK -- Wall Street stocks mostly climbed to end a shortened trading day on Friday, with investors keeping close watch on consumer spending at the unofficial start of the year-end shopping season.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3 percent to 35,390.15.

The broad-based S&P 500 edged up 0.1 percent to 4,559.34, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite Index ticked down 0.1 percent to 14,250.85.

Markets closed early on "Black Friday," the Friday after the Thanksgiving holiday when retailers often offer major discounts.

The annual sales day, which is followed by the newer "Cyber Monday," marks the start of the holiday shopping season.

"Today's lack of movement can be ascribed to a general lack of trading interest befitting the day after Thanksgiving," said Briefing.com in a note.

Consumers are expected to be increasingly price-conscious this year, still jaded by stubborn inflation and lingering effects from the upheaval of the pandemic.

But "how that ends up impacting retailers' profits remains to be seen" for now, Briefing.com added.

Among major retailers, Walmart shares advanced 0.7 percent while Target was up 0.5 percent.

Amazon shares were flat after it was hit by strikes in Europe, as workers demand better wages and working conditions.

UNI Global Union warned Amazon would face strikes and protests in more than 30 countries around the world, including the United States.

Agence France-Presse

Cyber Monday set to be biggest online shopping day in U.S. history

NEW YORK/BENGALURU - Cyber Monday was set to garner up to $12.7 billion in online sales, according to industry estimates, surpassing Black Friday's digital numbers as U.S. retailers enter the last lap of an extended holiday selling season.

Retailers have given shoppers nearly two months of offers since Amazon.com held its Prime Day in October, as they sought to be competitive and recoup the sales lost in this year's coronavirus-driven closures of malls and other stores.

Latest estimates from Adobe Analytics showed this year's conclusion to Thanksgiving weekend promotions would, however, still be the largest online sales day in history, with spending between $10.8 billion and $12.7 billion.

"While I anticipate another year of discount chicken — where consumers hold out for deeper and deeper discounts throughout the season ... Cyber Monday should (still) offer a great opportunity to make a big dent in holiday shopping," said Rob Garf, VP of strategy and insights at Salesforce.

Traditionally, Cyber Monday starts with people, fresh after a long weekend, scouring for discounts online at work and driving another big day of promotions.

However, the popularity of event shopping days has faded with the emergence of online shopping and cheap deals throughout the year from retailers including Amazon and Walmart Inc, with the health crisis this year also playing with shopping patterns.

"I did a lot of my shopping even before Black Friday... I feel I've gotten mostly everything," said Caroline McCormick, 33.

The Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, sales engineer said she's been receiving "early access" Black Friday emails for several weeks now, prompting her to buy hiking boots on Columbia Sportswear's website for her mother, socks on Kohl's Corp's website and more.

Today, when she was pitched more deals for Cyber Monday, "nothing popped out that made me think 'I need to get that right now.'"

The tentpole shopping event of Black Friday, which pulled in record online sales of about $9 billion, according to Adobe, saw shoppers turning up in smaller numbers at stores as they utilized the early deals and avoided stepping out into large crowds. 

This year's Cyber Monday saw not just online sellers such as Amazon offer steep discounts for its own brands, including Fire TV stick, Echo devices, and other electronics like PlayStations and roombas, but also brick-and-mortar stores such as Lululemon Athletica and Best Buy provide online deals.

"I go online a little bit and look around and do some comparison shopping, but Amazon pretty much beats everything," said Bill Hon, 49, a cook living in Crawfordsville, Indiana, who started his holiday shopping during Amazon's Prime Day event.

Apple also held a four-day event on its website ending on Monday, offering gift cards of up to $150 on purchase of certain products.

-reuters-

US online Black Friday sales hit record $7.4 billion

NEW YORK - Online sales on Black Friday in the United States hit a record $7.4 billion this year, with a jump in the number of transactions made from smartphones, according to data released Saturday by Adobe Analytics.

The figure was a 19.6 percent increase over last year and the second biggest day of online sales ever, the company said, just below the $7.9 billion consumers spent on last year's Cyber Monday, which follows Black Friday.

Adobe Analytics measures transactions from 80 of the 100 largest US online retailers.

This year, 39 percent of online purchases were made from smartphones, a 21 percent increase from last year.

"With Christmas now rapidly approaching, consumers increasingly jumped on their phones rather than standing in line," said Taylor Schreiner, principal analyst and head of Adobe Digital Insights.

The hottest toys included L.O.L. Surprise dolls and items featuring Disney's "Frozen 2." In the video game category, the top sellers were FIFA 20, Madden 20 and Nintendo Switch.

The most popular electronics were Apple laptops, AirPods and Samsung TVs.

Adobe Analytics estimates Cyber Monday will see a record $9.4 billion in sales, a nearly 19 percent increase over last year.

Shoppers spent $4.2 billion online during the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, the company said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

3 stabbed in The Hague shopping street

THE HAGUE, Netherlands—Three people were wounded in a stabbing in one of the main shopping streets in The Hague as people hunted bargains on Black Friday, police said.

Police said they were still hunting a male suspect following the attack, which happened in a department store in the center of the city.

Dutch media played down speculation about a terror motive but said police were still keeping an open mind about the incident, which came hours after 2 people were stabbed to death in a terror-related attack in London.

"We are currently taking all scenarios into account," a Dutch police spokeswoman was quoted as saying by the ANP news agency.

The stabbing happened at the Hudson's Bay department store in Grote Marktstraat, the biggest shopping area in The Hague, which is lined with major retailers and brands.

"We are conducting extensive investigations into the stab incident... Due to the complexity, this takes time," they added.

"We are still looking for the perpetrator."

Police said they were looking for a "slightly dark-skinned man" with curly hair aged between 40 and 50 wearing a black top, scarf and grey jogging bottoms.

Social media images showed shoppers running in panic away from the scene, on a nighttime shopping street lit by Christmas fairy lights.

EMERGENCY VEHICLES

Members of the public gathered behind a police cordon on the street, where shoppers had earlier been looking for bargains on Black Friday, an AFP correspondent at the scene said.

Police helicopters flew overhead and several emergency vehicles were on site, the correspondent said.

The stabbing was also not far from parliament in The Hague, which is the seat of government for the Netherlands and home to many international organizations.

The US embassy warned its nationals in The Hague to avoid the area because of "reports of a security incident" and told them to let loved ones know they were safe.

In the UK incident, 2 members of the public were killed in a stabbing on London Bridge in the heart of the capital. The suspected attacker was then tackled by passers-by and shot dead by police.

The Netherlands has seen a series of terror attacks and plots, although not so far on the scale of those in other European countries.

In March, 4 people were killed when a Turkish-born man opened fire on a tram in the city of Utrecht.

Dutch police on Monday arrested 2 suspected jihadists, one of them in The Hague, and charged them with planning a terror attack using suicide and car bombs.

Earlier this month, a Pakistani man was sentenced to 10 years in jail for a plot to kill far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Black Friday deals lure US shoppers, biggest sales gains online

NEW YORK - Shoppers across the United States snapped up deep discounts on toys, clothing, and electronics both online and at stores on Black Friday, giving retailers a strong start to their make-or-break holiday season.

A healthy economy and rising wages gave people the confidence to splash out on retailers' annual raft of bargains.

“The prices today are very good,” said Jose Manuel Cruz Hernandez, 59, who hit the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, California, with his sister Paulina Cruz, 66, who comes every year from Mexico City to shop.

The pair spent $120 on princess dolls and other toys at the Walt Disney Co store, where items were 20 percent off. They spent a similar amount at Gap Inc, where items were discounted by about 55 percent.

Cruz Hernandez, a foreman at an aerospace firm, said he was comfortable with the US economy and his own finances and plans to spend another $1,000 on holiday gifts - about the same as last year.

A similar story played out online, where shoppers spent $643 million by 10 a.m. ET, up 28 percent from a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics, which tracks transactions at most of the top US online retailers. Smartphone sales in particular contributed to gains.

Foot traffic looked healthy at stores offering discounts, although detailed numbers on brick-and-mortar holiday sales will not be available for several days.

"Overall, Black Friday doesn't have the sense of urgency as in the past and feels more like a busy regular weekend day in many of the stores," said Dana Telsey at Telsey Advisory Group.

"Many of the promotions were available for the past couple of weeks," Telsey said. "We haven't noticed desperation from any retailer."

Shares of Macy's Inc, Kohl's Corp, and Target Corp all closed down on Friday and weighed on the broader S&P 500 retailing index, which closed down 0.56 percent.

Investors are concerned retail sales growth may have peaked in the second quarter and business will slow down as comparisons get tougher, said Brian Yarbrough, retail analyst with Edward Jones.

Victoria's Secret owner L Brands, Walmart Inc and American Eagle Outfitters rose. J.C. Penney Co Inc ended flat and Amazon.com Inc closed slightly lower.

The overall stock market finished a shortened session with losses.

STRONG ONLINE SALES

Early numbers showed overall retail sales, both in stores and online, were in line with expectations, according to Mastercard Inc's SpendingPulse retail report. The firm expects overall Black Friday sales to top $23 billion this year, up from $21 billion last year.

Mastercard combines sales activity in its payments network with estimates of cash and other payment forms. It said cold weather in the eastern United States and wet weather in the west may be pushing more consumers online.

Online spending is on track to hit $6.4 billion on Friday, Adobe said. Online sales on Thanksgiving Day were up 28 percent at $3.7 billion.

The National Retail Federation forecast US holiday retail sales in Nov. and Dec. will increase between 4.3 and 4.8 percent over 2017 for a total of $717.45 billion to $720.89 billion. That compares with an average annual increase of 3.9 percent over the past 5 years.

About 38 percent of American consumers plan to shop on Black Friday, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed last week.

Very cold weather in the US Northeast may have kept some shoppers at home, although industry analysts also reported added demand for coats and other warm clothing. An Athleta clothing store in Tysons, Virginia, provided hot chocolate with marshmallows to women in line for the dressing room.

DEAL FRENZY

Shoppers picked up big-ticket items such as TVs, Apple Inc iPads and Watches at Target, while phones, toys, gaming consoles and cookware were top sellers at Walmart Inc.

Many shoppers sought out air fryers, which do not use oil to deep fry food and Instant Pots. Kohl's Chief Executive Michelle Gass told CNBC the company was selling 60 Instant Pots per minute online on Thanksgiving Day.

While most retailers have not changed their deals and discounts year-over-year, many have moved their start dates earlier and offered more teasers, according to deal site RetailMeNot.

The deepest discounts in apparel and accessories were offered by Michael Kors, which ran a 60 percent discount sale; Gap, which offered 50 percent off site-wide; and Nordstrom, which gave away up to 60 percent on merchandise.

Other deals included:

An H&M store in Manhattan offered 30 percent off everything in-store and online.

Macy's in Herald Square, Manhattan, sold a Coach designer wallet, originally $225, for $53. Coach bags there, originally $259, were half off.

Midtown Comics was taking 25 percent off everything at its 3 Manhattan locations until noon.

An Eddie Bauer in Chicago offered 50 percent off all items.

At a Chicago-area Pandora, which sells popular charm bracelets that can cost up to $1,000, jewelry was 35 percent off before 10 a.m. and 25 percent off for the remainder of the day.

J Crew clothing was 50 percent off. Its site experienced some technical difficulties.

Walmart was selling a Google Home mini for $99.

REPLACING A TOY STORE

Many retailers, reacting to the bankruptcy of the Toys 'R' Us chain, are catering to parents.

Target said in October it planned to dedicate nearly a quarter of a million square feet of new space to its toy business across 500 of its stores.

“Toys 'R' Us had better quality for toys,” said Ashley Drew, 29, shopping for her 5-year-old daughter at a Los Angeles-area Walmart, next door to the empty shell of a Toys 'R' Us store.

Department store JC Penney, known for its mid-priced apparel, has also made a push into toys.

Carolyn Pertette from Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania, shopped in the early morning at the Waterfront Mall in Pittsburgh.

"I'm concerned about where I'm going to get toys," she said.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Black Friday sale

A large crowd of people shop during a Black Friday sales event at Macy's flagship store on 34th Street in New York City, U.S., Thursday. The much-awaited nationwide sale happens every Thanksgiving Day in the U.S. 

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Amazon says some customer email addresses exposed

SAN FRANCISCO -- Amazon on Wednesday said that a website glitch accidentally exposed names and email addresses of some of the e-commerce giant's customers.

Amazon declined to disclose the extent of the software slip-up.

"We have fixed the issue and informed customers who may have been impacted," an Amazon spokesman said in response to an AFP inquiry.

There was no breach of Amazon systems or its website, and passwords were kept safe, according to the company.

As a precaution, messages were sent to customers affected by the website mishap letting them know their names and email addresses may have been disclosed by the Amazon website.

Amazon customers in the US and Europe have reported receiving messages from the company, according to tech news website TechCrunch.

The disclosure came on the cusp of the year-end holiday shopping season, with retailers online and in real-world shops offering "Black Friday" bargains pegged to the day after the Thanksgiving holiday in the US.

Amazon is the "undisputed e-commerce leader" in the US, with a 48 percent share of online sales here this year expected to equate to some $252 billion, according to analysts at eMarketer.

The market tracker forecast that total e-commerce sales in the US would jump 16.6 percent to $123.73 billion this holiday season as compared with the same period last year.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, Buy Nothing

MANILA -- Black Friday is 4 days away and thanks to online shopping, it’s no longer just consumers in the US that can enjoy deep discounts and irresistible deals on a wide range of merchandise.

Here in Asia, we even launched our own version of Black Friday and held it earlier with Singles Day last November 11. Online shopping sites Lazada, Shopee and Zalora all reported record-breaking sales thanks to Filipino consumers who find it nearly impossible to say no to buying items on sale.

This early, a quick scan on the internet shows shoppers will find it hard to resist what’s on offer. If you point your browser to BestBlackFriday.com, you can view the items that will go on sale from nearly all retailers beginning with giants Walmart, Target and Best Buy. I did and 2 hours quickly passed by as I drowned in all the bargains beautifully illustrated in the world wide web, 90 percent of which I don’t really need nor wanted until I started surfing.

And guess what? Some are even rolling in Black Friday early with online deals going live as early as 10 p.m. on Wednesday, November 21.

Before you park yourself in front of your computer, or tablet or phone, along with your credit card, why not stop and think if you should instead be a digital stranger for the next week?

KNOW THY ENEMY

Black Friday comes after Thanksgiving Day, the fourth Thursday of November, and kicks off the Christmas shopping season in the US Urban legend says the term was coined by retailers, as that’s the time of year when they begin to turn a profit, going from being "in the red" to being "in the black." In accounting terms, red means business loss while black means making money.

In the past, most of the shopping happens in stores, so marketing companies launched and coined the term Cyber Monday, for the Monday after Thanksgiving. Simply put, it’s the online equivalent to Black Friday and was a way for smaller retail websites to compete with larger chains. It’s become so successful that some skip Black Friday and hold out for Cyber Monday anticipating even better deals (plus the convenience of shopping in their pajamas).

BUY NOTHING DAY

Amusingly, between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, there is a quirky holiday called Buy Nothing Day. It’s not really a holiday, in case you think U.S. consumers are so pampered they are awarded a break between 2 major shopping events. Buy Nothing Day is a statement against the consumerism that takes over the whole country, and the rest of the world too thanks to digital shopping sites.

According to data from Adobe Digital Insights, which tracks 80 percent of online spending at 100 of the largest retail websites in the US, American shoppers spent a record $5 billion in 24 hours during Black Friday 2017! That’s a double-digit increase or 16.9 percent more compared with Black Friday 2016.

So the Buy Nothing statement actually makes for one smart advice when it comes to spending money during a sale. Just because something comes cheap does not mean you have to buy it. But if we can’t stop you from indulging, here are some tips to keep in mind to help you rein in your spending at any sale, not just on Singles Day, Black Friday or Cyber Monday.

1. NEVER SHOP HUNGRY. Not all shopping happens online, and if you are ready to brave the crowds, at least feed yourself first. Studies proved that hungry shoppers tend to buy more, and we are not just talking about food. According to Forbes.com, research from the University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management showed that an empty stomach amps up your desire to acquire things.

Because hunger makes you want to eat, you are thinking of seeking, acquiring and consuming food and these thoughts spill over even to non-food items. As a result, a hungry shopper will buy items they don’t even like or need, such as binder clips according to the documented study.

2. IF THE SHOES DON’T FIT, IT WON’T EVER FIT. Yes, it’s half the price but if it does not come in your size, let it go even at 70 percent off. Feet do not shrink and you owe it to your toes to get shoes that fit right and will let you walk comfortably.

As for that designer dress you want to add to your closet – and wow, now at half price – but it’s 2 sizes smaller, we offer the same advice: walk away. Even if you are confident you will lose 20 pounds next month, until you do, don’t bet with your hard-earned money.

3. KEEP YOUR COOL OR LOSE YOUR SHIRT. It’s just a sale, and you are not saving the world one purchase at a time so keep a level head. If you see items that your family or friends would like, you can decide to buy it as a gift but only if it’s within your gift budget. Do not volunteer to shop for others as that will add to your stress level (and lead to more shopping and spending).

One more reason to keep it cool? Crowds and long lines at the cashier are recipes for disaster. In the US, consumers are known to fight over merchandise, so tempers flare and they have escalated to violent attacks landing people in jail!

4. BETTER YET, RESIST AND LIVE TO SHOP ANOTHER DAY. While I like a good deal as much as the next person, I admit I avoid sales as a rule. Again, surveys show that people who shop during sales are more likely to overspend, as they will be exposed to items that are not on their list to buy, or lulled into thinking they need something just because it is cheap.

Even if you have a list, people shop sales with what they see and what items are on discount so expect to bust your budget. With inflation at its highest in nine years, your wallet should be feeling the pinch so missing the sale this year is probably a sound idea all around.

5... OR SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES

But if you don’t have the willpower and did go to the sale, you can still save your budget. Say you went overboard and realized it the next day after the sale, or even the same day, try returning the items you know you won’t really need or use. If the price tags are all intact, and you have the official receipt, prepare to make your case with the store.

According to the Department of Trade and Industry, here in the Philippines, consumers can return items as long as there is a defect in the quality of goods or imperfection in the service, but not if you only changed your mind. However, some stores are willing to accommodate same day or next day return or refund, so no harm in trying. And if they turn you down, consider offering the items to people you know that may be interested. Explore anything that will make your budget return to black.

The holiday season tends to spur people into shopping frenzies as they go about buying gifts for family and friends. But sometimes, you can skip the shopping and look for gifts that will not hurt your budget and celebrate the meaning of the season. Why not make a donation to a charity and do it in the name of everyone in your Iist? That’s not only a win-win; it’s a win-win-win, for your wallet, for the people in your gift list and the people who will have a happier holiday thanks to you.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Bezos a $100 billion man as Amazon rises on cyber shopping

SAN FRANCISCO - Amazon founder Jeff Bezos was a $100-billion man on Monday as the online retail colossus raked in cash from the holiday weekend's cyber shopping spree.

Forbes magazine's real-time ranking of the richest people had Bezos on top, with a personal net worth of $100.3 billion.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates saw his net worth climb to a dizzying $89.4 billion but was relegated to being the second most affluent person on the planet.

Bezos owns almost 17 percent of Amazon, which he founded in a Seattle garage in 1994 after quitting a hedge fund job to sell books online.

Amazon shares finished the official trading day up just shy of a percent, and inched up a bit more in after-market trades to top $1,200.

Based on the share price, Seattle-based Amazon had a market value of some $576.3 billion.

Market tracker Adobe Digital Insights data showed that online shopping was at a record-setting pace from Black Friday into Cyber Monday.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

US Black Friday, Thanksgiving online sales climb to record high

CHICAGO - Black Friday and Thanksgiving online sales in the United States surged to record highs as shoppers bagged deep discounts and bought more on their mobile devices, heralding a promising start to the key holiday season, according to retail analytics firms.

US retailers raked in a record $7.9 billion in online sales on Black Friday and Thanksgiving, up 17.9 percent from a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics, which measures transactions at the largest 100 US web retailers, on Saturday.

Adobe said Cyber Monday is expected to drive $6.6 billion in internet sales, which would make it the largest US online shopping day in history.

In the run-up to the holiday weekend, traditional retailers invested heavily in improving their websites and bulking up delivery options, preempting a decline in visits to brick-and-mortar stores. Several chains tightened store inventories as well, to ward off any post-holiday liquidation that would weigh on profits.

TVs, laptops, toys and gaming consoles - particularly the PlayStation 4 - were among the most heavily discounted and the biggest sellers, according to retail analysts and consultants.

Commerce marketing firm Criteo said 40 percent of Black Friday online purchases were made on mobile phones, up from 29 percent last year.

No brick-and-mortar sales data for Thanksgiving or Black Friday was immediately available, but Reuters reporters and industry analysts noted anecdotal signs of muted activity - fewer cars in mall parking lots, shoppers leaving stores without purchases in hand.

Stores offered heavy discounts, creative gimmicks and free gifts to draw bargain hunters out of their homes, but some shoppers said they were just browsing the merchandise, reserving their cash for internet purchases. There was little evidence of the delirious shopper frenzy customary of Black Fridays from past years.

However, retail research firm ShopperTrak said store traffic fell less than 1 percent on Black Friday, bucking industry predictions of a sharper decline.

“There has been a significant amount of debate surrounding the shifting importance of brick-and-mortar retail,” Brian Field, ShopperTrak’s senior director of advisory services, said.

“The fact that shopper visits remained intact on Black Friday illustrates that physical retail is still highly relevant and when done right, it is profitable.”

The National Retail Federation (NRF), which had predicted strong holiday sales helped by rising consumer confidence, said on Friday that fair weather across much of the nation had also helped draw shoppers into stores.

The NRF, whose overall industry sales data is closely watched each year, is scheduled to release Thanksgiving, Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales numbers on Tuesday.

US consumer confidence has been strengthening over this past year, due to a labor market that is churning out jobs, rising home prices and stock markets that are hovering at record highs.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Panic on London's Oxford Street after reports of shooting

LONDON—Panic erupted among Christmas shopping crowds on London's Oxford Street on Friday evening as armed officers raced to respond to reports of shots being fired in the area but police said later they had found no evidence of gunfire or casualties.

Oxford Street, with its festive window displays and hundreds of overhead lights, was crammed with shoppers taking advantage of the Black Friday sales when the incident happened shortly after dusk.

London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement they had found no evidence of gunfire, casualties or any suspects and that the incident, which lasted for just over an hour, had been stood down.

"Given the nature of the information received, the Met responded in line with our existing operation as if the incident was terrorism, including the deployment of armed officers," they said in a statement.

A Reuters witness said panicked shoppers had fled Oxford Street and Oxford Circus underground station.

The witness saw an elderly lady and a man carrying his child knocked over in the rush. "There were people running in all directions. I didn't know which way to run," the witness said.

Britain's transport police said they had received a report of one woman suffering a minor injury in the panic.

The capital's transport operator, Transport for London, said Oxford Circus and Bond Street stations, which had been briefly shut due to the incident, had later reopened.

(Additional reporting by David Milliken, William Schomberg and James Davey; Writing by Michael Holden; editing by Stephen Addison)

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Black Friday rush

Shoppers rush to buy appliances as they compete for items on sale during the Black Friday sale at a store in Sao Paulo, Brazil on Thursday. The Black Friday sale is part of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend in Western countries.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

US shoppers browse stores, buy online as Black Friday deals beckon

CHICAGO/NEW YORK - US stores offered deep discounts, entertainment and free gifts to lure bargain hunters on Black Friday, the traditional start of the holiday retail season, but some shoppers said they were just browsing the merchandise, reserving their cash for internet purchases.

Still, a sharp rise in online sales brightened the overall outlook for those traditional retailers that have expanded beyond brick-and-mortar outlets, sending their shares higher in day-after-Thanksgiving trading. Stores also had carefully managed inventory, seeking to ward off any post-holiday liquidation that would weigh on profits.

There was little evidence of the delirious shopper frenzy customary of Black Fridays from past years, even as some stores appeared to be getting creative with gimmicks besides heavy discounts to draw in customers.

No actual data for Friday's brick-and-mortar business was immediately available.

Despite anecdotal signs of muted in-store sales - fewer cars in mall parking lots, shoppers leaving stores without purchases in hand - consumers are still expected to spend more overall this holiday season than last, analysts and industry executives said.

Black Friday online sales totaled at least $3.54 billion by 8 p.m. EST (0100 Saturday GMT), up 15.6 percent from a year ago, according to Adobe Analytics, which measures transactions at the largest 100 U.S. web retailers. On Thanksgiving Day, U.S. shoppers spent more than $2.87 billion online.

Adobe projected internet sales would still reach a record $5 billion by the end of the night, with online retailers forecast to rake in an additional $6.6 billion on Cyber Monday.

Indeed, some chains struggled to keep up, with brief online outages experienced by Lowe's, H&M and the Gap, among others, according to website performance monitors.

Macy's Inc customers in several states, including Texas, Arizona and Illinois, took to social media to complain about the retailer's credit card processing system. The company acknowledged that processing was taking longer than usual in its stores and said it was working on the problem.

The hiccups dragged Macy's shares 0.6 percent lower in extended trading. They had ended the regular session up 2.1 percent, boosted by comments from Chief Executive Jeff Gennette, who told CNBC that Macy's was better off this year than last, had robust online demand and was in a good place for holiday promotions.

Macy's and J.C. Penney Co Inc did a better job of ordering and controlling inventory this time, according to Burt Flickinger, managing director of Strategic Resources Group, a consultancy with seven researchers out in the field.

"The turnout this morning has been relatively slow, but it is still the best we have seen in three years," Flickinger said, citing improving consumer confidence, a strong job market and healthy housing prices.

Fair weather across much of the nation also was factor, said National Retail Federation President Matthew Shay.

Some shoppers were enticed by the promise of spectacle, while others felt the pull of nostalgia.

"It's like a hangout, it's an experience," said Jonathan Lin, 17. "All my friends are back from college and we got together."

"There’s something nostalgic about being at the stores this early,” Jennifer Stasiak said at Chicago’s popular Oakbrook Center.

Not everyone found the Black Friday magic irresistible.

“I avoid the store, too many crowds,” said Elana Silverstein, 32, a school counselor enjoying a warm, sunny day at a Los Angeles park. Instead, Silverstein said, she bought several personal items on sale Thursday night through the online marketplace Groupon.

Major retailers generally traded higher on Wall Street. J.C. Penney climbed 0.6 percent and Wal-Mart Stores Inc edged upward. Amazon.com Inc closed up 2.6 percent at a record high.

Target Corp did not fare as well, with analysts noting that it closed its stores for several hours overnight while many rivals kept their doors open. Its shares fell 2.8 percent.

NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE

The period between the US Thanksgiving holiday and Christmas can make or a break a retailer, accounting for as much as 40 percent of annual revenue and leading many businesses to go the extra mile to stoke shoppers' interest.

Godiva gave out free chocolates, while Sephora offered face masks and perfumes. Dancers entertained Bergdorf Goodman shoppers, according to the New York Post.

Many chains, including Wal-Mart, Target, Macy's and J.C. Penney, opened stores on Thursday evening and most were offering extended deals online. Some started offering in-store deals earlier this week.

Macy's said some 16,000 shoppers were lined up outside its flagship Herald Square store in Manhattan when doors opened at 5 p.m. on Thursday for its Black Friday eve sale.

The deepest discounts included more than $200 off some Best Buy TVs; all bras across Victoria's Secret Pink stores priced at $25; half-priced video games at Target; and $50 off PlayStation 4 Pro gaming consoles at Wal-Mart.

Here and there were signs of the pandemonium for which Black Friday was long known.

A confrontation between two men in the parking lot of Willowbrook Mall in Houston left one shot and the other stabbed, though the origins of the clash and whether it was shopping-related was not immediately known, police said.

A false report of gunfire prompted shoppers to flee the Westland Mall in Hialeah, Florida. Stores reopened less than an hour later, a mall security supervisor told Reuters by phone.

Near Birmingham, Alabama, police broke up a fight on Thursday night between two women who may have been arguing over a sale item at the Riverchase Galleria, mall officials said.

The growing online shopping trend, led by Amazon, has forced the toy chain Toys R Us and apparel retailers True Religion, the Limited, Rue 21 and Payless Shoe Source to file for bankruptcy this year.

Still, traditional retailers earn the bulk of their revenue from in-store buys. Shoppers in brick-and-mortar stores can also be easier to tempt with impulse or add-on purchases than online browsers.

Garden State Plaza in Paramus, New Jersey, was crowded but not chaotic. Shoppers came for deals with nothing specific in mind. Many enjoyed the experience of trying on clothes rather than shopping online.

A Macy's employee there said it was less busy on Friday because the store had been open, and packed, on Thursday.

"They’re all online," said Sarah Jones, 42, an employee at Roosevelt Field Mall on Long Island. "I’ve worked in retail my whole life, trust me."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

As Black Friday nears, US stores get creative to battle e-commerce

NEW YORK - The photo op with Santa Claus has long been a holiday mainstay for American children. But this year, shopping malls in several states are scheduling glamor shots for man's best friend.

As the Christmas shopping season kicks into high gear on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, portraits of St. Nick with a family's beloved dog are just one way retailers are looking to attract customers in the face of exploding e-commerce.

Brick-and-mortar stores have expanded their bag of tricks -- and gotten increasingly bold -- as they look to lure shoppers who might otherwise be happy to stay on the couch and pick up gifts while still in their pajamas.

The flagship Bloomingdale's store in New York has held yoga classes, and Nordstrom has displayed Tesla cars near the section for men's suits.

A number of shops now ply visitors with food and drink.

For the holiday shopping season, malls are hosting gingerbread decorating sessions, visits from the Grinch -- Dr. Seuss's beloved Christmas villain-turned-softie -- and ugly Christmas sweater nights.

Temporary ice skating rinks and magical winter decor are also being used to draw customers intent on an in-person holiday experience.

Wal-Mart Stores plans to throw more than 20,000 "holiday parties" at which children can pose for "selfies with Santa."

"All of these retailers are desperate to get people into their stores," said analyst Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, who added a note of caution about all the promotions.

"Whether they work or not is open to debate."

THE DRAW OF THE INTERNET

Most experts predict a solid holiday shopping season, with IHS Markit projecting overall sales growth of 4.2 percent to about $685 billion, said Chris Christopher, executive director at IHS.

Online sales are expected to account for 18.3 percent of holiday sales this year, up from 16.8 percent last year, according to IHS.

Surveys show that creating a festive holiday atmosphere is one way to prompt consumers to pocket their smartphones for a few hours and hit the mall.

About a third of consumers said they enjoyed holiday shopping as a family tradition and 23 percent said they most enjoy holiday decorations, said a National Retail Federation survey.

Tourist Karen Boyd, who was visiting New York this week from Palo Alto, California, said she expects to do half of her shopping online and half of it in stores this year.

"The years I've done 100 percent online, it doesn’t feel like you've done your holiday shopping!" she said near Saks Fifth Avenue's famed holiday window display as Christmas carols played in the background.

NEW APPS AND CURBSIDE DELIVERY

As e-commerce has grabbed bigger market share, chains like Target and Gap have invested heavily in smartphone apps and sophisticated "big data" programs to target consumers and price most effectively.

Upscale department store Nordstrom is offering 24-hour curbside pickup at a handful of stores for the final 9 days of the shopping season.

"Customers increasingly want to shop where, how and when they choose, and 24/7 Curbside Pickup is one service we're offering to support their experience," said Shea Jensen, senior vice president of customer experience at Nordstrom.

Department store Kohl's is taking to heart a common motto -- if you can't beat them, join them.

Kohl's will accept returns of goods bought on Amazon at its stores in Chicago and Los Angeles -- and will pack and ship the unpackaged items back to the online behemoth at no charge.

The hope is that Amazon shoppers will linger and buy a few items from Kohl's.

"We have a really very simple, straightforward objective here, and that is driving traffic is the number one priority we have as a company," chief executive Kevin Mansell said earlier this month.

HEART OF THE PROBLEM?

For Saunders, while doggie pics with Santa might draw pet lovers to stores, other initiatives are less inviting. And for him, the real issue is on the product side.

"A lot of these retailers aren't delivering what people want," he said.

David Simon, chief executive of the mall giant Simon Property Group, said stores should shake up their approach to customer service, highlighting Apple's attentiveness to customers and sleek store design.

"I think if they did that in a more comprehensive way through checkouts service, styling . . . they would see a pickup in their in-store sales," Simon said on a recent conference call.

Shopper Melin Ghotan said "bad customer service" had marred her recent purchase at a video game store -- a clerk balked when the Los Angeles mother requested a second shopping bag for the items.

"I'd have rather bought it online," she said as she walked near New York's lamdmark Rockefeller Center.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

US stores get creative to battle e-commerce As Black Friday nears

NEW YORK - The photo op with Santa Claus has long been a holiday mainstay for American children. But this year, shopping malls in several states are scheduling glamour shots for man's best friend.

As the Christmas shopping season kicks into high gear on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, portraits of St. Nick with a family's beloved dog are just one way retailers are looking to attract customers in the face of exploding e-commerce.

Brick-and-mortar stores have expanded their bag of tricks -- and gotten increasingly bold -- as they look to lure shoppers who might otherwise be happy to stay on the couch and pick up gifts while still in their pajamas.

The flagship Bloomingdale's store in New York has held yoga classes, and Nordstrom has displayed Tesla cars near the section for men's suits.

A number of shops now ply visitors with food and drink.

For the holiday shopping season, malls are hosting gingerbread decorating sessions, visits from the Grinch -- Dr. Seuss's beloved Christmas villain-turned-softie -- and ugly Christmas sweater nights.

Temporary ice skating rinks and magical winter decor are also being used to draw customers intent on an in-person holiday experience.

Wal-Mart Stores plans to throw more than 20,000 "holiday parties" at which children can pose for "selfies with Santa."

"All of these retailers are desperate to get people into their stores," said analyst Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, who added a note of caution about all the promotions.

"Whether they work or not is open to debate."

THE DRAW OF THE INTERNET

Most experts predict a solid holiday shopping season, with IHS Markit projecting overall sales growth of 4.2 percent to about $685 billion, said Chris Christopher, executive director at IHS.

Online sales are expected to account for 18.3 percent of holiday sales this year, up from 16.8 percent last year, according to IHS.

Surveys show that creating a festive holiday atmosphere is one way to prompt consumers to pocket their smartphones for a few hours and hit the mall.

About a third of consumers said they enjoyed holiday shopping as a family tradition and 23 percent said they most enjoy holiday decorations, said a National Retail Federation survey.

Tourist Karen Boyd, who was visiting New York this week from Palo Alto, California, said she expects to do half of her shopping online and half of it in stores this year.

"The years I've done 100 percent online, it doesn’t feel like you've done your holiday shopping!" she said near Saks Fifth Avenue's famed holiday window display as Christmas carols played in the background.

NEW APPS AND CURBSIDE DELIVERY

As e-commerce has grabbed bigger market share, chains like Target and Gap have invested heavily in smartphone apps and sophisticated "big data" programs to target consumers and price most effectively.

Upscale department store Nordstrom is offering 24-hour curbside pickup at a handful of stores for the final nine days of the shopping season.

"Customers increasingly want to shop where, how and when they choose, and 24/7 Curbside Pickup is one service we're offering to support their experience," said Shea Jensen, senior vice president of customer experience at Nordstrom.

Department store Kohl's is taking to heart a common motto -- if you can't beat them, join them.

Kohl's will accept returns of goods bought on Amazon at its stores in Chicago and Los Angeles -- and will pack and ship the unpackaged items back to the online behemoth at no charge.

The hope is that Amazon shoppers will linger and buy a few items from Kohl's.

"We have a really very simple, straightforward objective here, and that is driving traffic is the number one priority we have as a company," chief executive Kevin Mansell said earlier this month.

HEART OF THE PROBLEM?

For Saunders, while doggie pics with Santa might draw pet lovers to stores, other initiatives are less inviting. And for him, the real issue is on the product side.

"A lot of these retailers aren't delivering what people want," he said.

David Simon, chief executive of the mall giant Simon Property Group, said stores should shake up their approach to customer service, highlighting Apple's attentiveness to customers and sleek store design.

"I think if they did that in a more comprehensive way through checkouts service, styling . . . they would see a pickup in their in-store sales," Simon said on a recent conference call.

Shopper Melin Ghotan said "bad customer service" had marred her recent purchase at a video game store -- a clerk balked when the Los Angeles mother requested a second shopping bag for the items.

"I'd have rather bought it online," she said as she walked near New York's lamdmark Rockefeller Center.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Mobile use drives US holiday shopping gains

SAN FRANCISCO - Americans are turning to their mobile devices for deals to kick off the holiday shopping season, with retail trends increasingly upended by ever-present smartphones.

According to Adobe Digital Insights, the four-day Thanksgiving Day weekend that normally marks the start of the holiday season saw online sales of $36.5 billion, up seven percent from last year -- more than a third of that coming from mobile devices.

The latest figures showed the diminishing importance of events such as "Black Friday," the blockbuster sales day following the Thanksgiving holiday on Thursday, and "Cyber Monday," a tradition dating back to days when consumers waited to use their office high-speed connections for online purchases.

Data released earlier by the National Retail Federation showed relatively flat total retail sales for Black Friday, noting that 44 percent shopped online to 40 percent who went in stores.

Plenty of bargain-hunters took a break from Thanksgiving festivities on Thursday to shop -- with online sales totaling $1.93 billion, and 40 percent of the total on tablets or smartphones ($771 million), according to Adobe.

Data from IBM, meanwhile, showed US holiday retail trends catching on globally.

IBM said global retailers saw a 24 percent increase in online sales as the weekend kicked off, with a major British retailer reporting 2,100 hits per second in the early hours of Black Friday.

"It is clear, online shopping during the US holiday period has become a global phenomenon," said Harriet Green, general manager at IBM Commerce, which manages systems for retailers.

IBM said pre-holiday online shopping was up 10 percent over 2015, and that this momentum likely pointed to similar gains for the early season.

SHOPPING MONDAY

Adobe said Black Friday set a new record by surpassing the $3 billion mark for the first time ($3.34 billion), with the first-ever day of mobile sales topping $1 billion.

For Cyber Monday, overall online sales were expected to be even bigger -- $3.36 billion, with mobile accounting for 38 percent of the total, Adobe said.

Smartphones were driving twice as many sales as tablets on Monday, at 27 percent to 13 percent, according to the survey.

Online payments firm PayPal meanwhile reported "double digit growth in payment volume" on mobile devices during the first eight hours of Cyber Monday.

"The nature of how people shop has changed," said Anuj Nayar, senior director of global initiatives for PayPal.

"People shop everywhere, people shop at all times in day, people shop in five-minute increments on the bus when they commute home."

Yory Wurmser, analyst at the research firm eMarketer, said the new mobile trend is fueled by consumers with bigger, more powerful smartphones, making it easier to view and purchase.

"Bigger screens, better mobile design and simpler payment options have all contributed to this explosion of sales via smartphones," Wurmser said.

"We're still in the early part of the smartphone commerce revolution, and the development of better app search, payment systems and commerce on new platforms should propel sales strongly in 2017."

Some of the best-selling toys in the early season, according to Adobe, were Lego Creator Sets, electric scooters from Razor, Nerf Guns, DJI Phantom Drones and Barbie Dreamhouse.

Among the big electronics sellers were Apple iPads, Samsung 4k TVs, Apple MacBook Air, LG TVs and Microsoft Xbox.

Adobe said PlayStation 4 has been the best-selling video game console, followed by Microsoft Xbox One. "Pokemon Sun" and "Pokemon Moon" were the biggest video games, followed by "Call of Duty."

source: news.abs-cbn.com

US Black Friday: more shoppers but less spent per head

WASHINGTON - The American shopping orgy known as Black Friday lured more buyers this year but they spent less per person thanks to great bargains, an industry group said Sunday.

More than 154 million people made purchases during the four-day retail extravaganza that began Thursday on Thanksgiving, compared to 151 million last year, the National Retail Federation said.

Shoppers spent an average of $289.19, compared to $299.60 in 2015.

Sales over the Thanksgiving holiday, which extends into so-called Cyber Monday, are a good indicator of the health of US consumer spending.

Online sales dominated. A total of 44 percent of those who took part in the NRF survey said they had bought via the internet while 40 percent went to a brick-and-mortar store.

"It was a strong weekend for retailers, but an even better weekend for consumers, who took advantage of some really incredible deals," NRF president Matthew Shay said.

The most popular day to shop online was Black Friday itself, the day after the Thanksgiving holiday. Of those who purchased online over the four-day period, 74 percent did so on Friday, up 1.3 percent from last year.

And of the people who went to actual stores over this shopping period, 75 percent did so on Black Friday, up 3.4 percent from last year, the NRF said.

Millennials, aged 18-34, drove the increase in shopping, with eight out of ten buying something over the long weekend.

Around 56 percent of smartphone owners and 53 percent of tablet owners used these devices to assist with their shopping.

The study was carried out by Prosper Insights & Analytics with a sample of 4,330 people on November 25-26 and has a margin of error of 1.5 percentage points.

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Wall Street ends at record highs; dollar loses steam

* Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq, Russell 2000 hit record highs

* European shares edge higher

* US yields stable after 2-year yields hit 6-1/2-year high

* Dollar falls on profit-taking

* US crude tumbles 4 pct on uncertainty over production cuts

* Gold prices hit 9-1/2-month low

NEW YORK - Key stock indexes on Wall Street swept to record intraday and closing highs on Black Friday thanks to gains in consumer staple and technology shares, while European stocks climbed and a stabilization in US Treasury yields promoted investors to sell the dollar.

The Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes, as well as the small cap Russell 2000, hit record closing and intraday highs in thin trading, with the US stock market closing at 1:00 p.m. ET (1700 GMT). For the week, the Dow and Nasdaq gained 1.5 percent, while the S&P 500 rose 1.4 percent.

The S&P 500 consumer staples index's 0.8 percent gain boosted shares on Black Friday, which traditionally kicks off the U.S. holiday shopping season.

European stocks notched a third straight week of gains, even as a tumble in oil prices dragged commodities shares lower. Uncertainty over whether OPEC will agree to cut production at the group's meeting next week weighed on crude prices.

Expectations that US President-elect Donald Trump's promises of tax cuts, higher infrastructure spending and reduced regulation would benefit certain industries, including banking, industrials and healthcare, have underpinned multiple recent all-time highs in U.S. shares.

"While many stocks have risen quite briskly, investors are looking for some forgotten names in the rally," said Andre Bakhos, managing director at Janlyn Capital in Bernardsville, New Jersey.

MSCI's all-country world equity index was last up 1.86 points, or 0.45 percent, at 414.99.

The Dow Jones industrial average closed up 68.96 points, or 0.36 percent, at 19,152.14. The S&P 500 ended up 8.63 points, or 0.39 percent, at 2,213.35. The Nasdaq Composite closed up 18.24 points, or 0.34 percent, at 5,398.92.

Europe's broad FTSEurofirst 300 index closed up 0.29 percent at 1,351.66.

While positive for stocks, Trump's surprise victory in the Nov. 8 election has sent US Treasury yields higher as investors bet his pro-growth and inflationary policies will erode the value of US bonds.

US Treasuries were last steady after two-year yields hit a 6-1/2-year high of 1.17 percent overnight as investors evaluated how much further the selloff had to run.

"There are a number of people that want to buy in but also don't want to get whipped by the next 25-to-30 basis point selloff," said Gennadiy Goldberg, an interest rate strategist at TD Securities in New York.

The dollar index, which measures the greenback against a basket of six major currencies, was last down 0.3 percent at 101.430 as investors took advantage of the pullback in US bond yields to lock in gains after the dollar hit a nearly 14-year peak on Thursday.

Despite Friday's steep losses, U.S. and benchmark Brent crude oil prices eked out a second straight week of gains. Brent crude settled down $1.76, or 3.59 percent, at $47.24 a barrel. U.S. crude settled down $1.90, or 3.96 percent, at $46.06 a barrel.

Gold prices tumbled to a 9-1/2 month low of $1,171.2100 an ounce, partly on expectations of a U.S. interest rate increase by the Federal Reserve next month. - With additional reporting by Yashaswini Swamynathan in Bengaluru, Jessica Resnick-Ault in Boston and Karen Brettell and Gertrude Chavez-Dreyfuss in New York

source: news.abs-cbn.com

Pinoy Walmart workers join rally seeking $15-an-hour wage

MILPITAS, California. – Thousands of Walmart workers and their union protested in front of 1,600 Walmart stores across the nation to demand a $15 an hour wage, full-time work, and better working conditions.

Filipinos joined more than 400 workers and their union who rallied in front of the Milpitas Walmart.

“They gave you more work and then less hours,” said Eddie Daguioan, a Filipino who has been employed by the company for eight years. “And then we got associates here 15 years who are still part-time. That hurts.”

Maria Sumagaysan said she has been overlooked and passed up for promotions by workers with less experience.

“The more you ask them, the more they take your hours, which is not fair,” said Samugaysan. “What is it all about? Is it discrimination? Favoritism or what? I challenge them. Look at my personal file. Look at my evaluation. I’m not perfect but I think I try my best to work hard for Walmart.”

Sumagaysan and disgruntled Filipino Walmart workers say want to represent those who are afraid to speak up.

“There are too many members in my store but they were afraid to stand up,” said Sumagaysan, who has been with the company for 15-years. “They are afraid to stand up because they are afraid to lose their jobs. That’s why they are not here. I’m standing up for the Filipino workers.”

“We stand up for them to give them courage and more of them are coming to join our Walmart association,” said Eddie Daguioan.

Walmart released a statement on their website regarding the Black Friday protests.

The biggest American employer states that the demonstrators were mainly composed of paid union demonstrators who do not represent actual Walmart workers.

Walmart management adds that the company will not be distracted by protests and will continue to provide their associates with opportunities for job growth.

While the $15 minimum wage is set to take effect in cities like Seattle and now San Francisco, protesters say they will continue to protest until changes come.

“Until the end,” added Daguioan. “I’m going to do it every time. We need it.”

Protesters did not want to stop anyone from shopping at Walmart, but they did speak with many customers during their march to inform them why they are protesting, and to bring more awareness to their cause.

Read more from Balitang America:

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

US protesters force closure of mall near Ferguson

US protesters forced a crowded St Louis mall to close for around two hours on Friday, demanding a boycott to post-Thanksgiving shopping and justice for an unarmed black teenager killed by police.

Scores of demonstrators, including young children, shouted "No justice, no peace," and "Stop shopping and join the movement" at the St Louis Galleria Mall.

Around 100 people lay on the floor for four and a half minutes to symbolize the more than four hours that 18-year-old Michael Brown lay in the road after being shot dead by a white police officer in the St Louis suburb of Ferguson.

In New York, police made "several" arrests at a protest in front of Macy's flagship store in Herald Square, a spokesman said, without explaining why the demonstrators had been detained.

About 200 people gathered in support of the boycott of "Black Friday", which comes the day after America's Thanksgiving holiday and sees stores offering steep discounts, leading to often-frenzied consumer spending.

In the San Francisco Bay area, protestors severely disrupted the BART mass transit system for more than two hours by blocking off a train station in Oakland, officials said.

The protestors chained themselves together at the West Oakland station, forcing trains to be stopped into and out of San Francisco, briefly stranding crowds including many heading to malls seeking Black Friday bargains.

The protests came four days after a Missouri grand jury decided not to indict the officer who killed Brown, sparking arson and looting in Ferguson.

At the St Louis mall, shoppers and store staff looked bemused, while others filmed or photographed the protest, or else clapped and shouted their support.

When police officers told AFP they were clearing the building, the protesters had already left.

The management office confirmed that the shopping center reopened at 3:15 pm, around two hours after stores were told police were closing the building.

Although most shops reopened, others kept their doors locked and shutters down even after the mall was back in business.

It was not immediately clear how much business had been lost.

Shop staff said police had ordered the closure for public safety.

"It ain't my decision," said Luke, a shoe store manager who didn't want to give his last name.

"The police thought it was in the best interest of our customers and our product to close down," he added.

Protesters claimed success.

"It is now a movement and it is spreading across the country and around the world. Black Friday is the next step," said journalist and activist Kymone Freeman from Washington.

"Hopefully we'll see more of this. I think Black Friday protests will continue throughout the Christmas season," he added.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com