Consumer Business Recap: Home Depot SHUTS Chinese Outlets, Ford’s European TROUBLES

Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE:HD) will close all seven of its big box outlets in China, thus shashing 850 jobs, which will lead to a $160 million charge in the third quarter. The company explains that “China is a do-it-for-me market, not a do-it-yourself market, so we have to adjust.” Home Depot will now concentrate on online and specialty store in that country, while the macroeconomy stalls out.

Don’t Miss: Ford Has a PLAN to Increase U.S. Market Share.

Volkswagen A G (VLKAY.PK) says that its global sales jumped by 19 percent year-over-year in August, fueled by an impressive month in North America. To its credit, VW has effectively transferred away its reliance upon Western Europe, where sales outside of Germany still lag.

According to its 8-K, Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) will contribute an additional $203 million to its United States pension plan so that it may offer lump-sum settlements to workers. At the close of its most recent fiscal year, Sears’ gross pension obligations amounted to $6.1 billion.

Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) will not guarantee to unions in Belgium that its plant in Genk could be slated for shutdown. Operations in Europe are a major priority for the company as they face weak sales and are causing huge losses, even though new models are still being launched there.

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