DHL Withdraws From U.S.; China ‘Stimulates’ Railway and Steel Industries; YouTube to Show Full-Length Flicks; McDonald’s October Sales Solid; DB Analysts Says GM Stock Worthless; Fannie Mae to Tap Fed Fund; Starbucks Profit Down 97%; U.S. Cotton Production Declines by a Third

Palm Can’t Compete; Oracle Reports Profit Jump; Gustav Drives Unemployment; AIG Taps Edward Liddy; McCain Wants SEC Chief Canned; FedEx Felled by Fuel Costs

Taipain Publishing’s Adam Lass says investors should be wary of luxury retailers that claim they will emerge unscathed from the current economic downturn.

Real incomes and real private spending are falling, inflation is ticking upwards and consumer confidence is in the gutter.

This makes Tiffany & Co. (NYSE:TIF) - with its overly optimistic earnings expectations for Christmas spending - ripe for shorting.

Volatile oil prices… Bush blames Democrats for fuel crisis… More gloom on Wall Street… Stocks take a beating…

Crude futures encountered a volatile week last week as traders analyzed the contrasting news from aboard. On one hand, the news that Saudi Arabia may be increasing oil production and that China is hiking gasoline and diesel fuel prices should dampen demand and move prices lower. On the other hand, Israel threatened Iran’s nuclear facilities and rebels reportedly attacked a Chevron Corp. (CVX) plant in Nigeria late last week (both should contribute to higher oil prices). For now, crude stands around the $135 per barrel level.

I hope you enjoyed the Memorial Day weekend - and that your wallet still has a pulse if you did any traveling.