LETTING GO OF ICON

Cash-strapped Ford Motor has sold a stake in the iconic Aston Martin brand, raising $925 million to help finance its turnaround plan.

Aston Martin, made famous by its exotic sports cars appearing in James Bond movies, now will be run by a consortium of investors.

HARD ROCK EXPANSION

$750 million planned for the expansion of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, according to boutique hotel developer Morgans Hotel Group Co. and DLJ Merchant Banking Partners. The overhaul will add 550 rooms and 400 suites in two separate towers as well as a new spa and health club, pool area, several restaurants and bars and a new nightclub.

PEPSI OR COKE?

The new ground zero in the beverage wars: McDonald's. While restaurants traditionally sell either Coca-Cola or Pepsi-Cola, McDonald's 10-month-old pilot project offers Pepsi products where once only Coke could be had. Sales through McDonald's restaurants account for as much as 10 percent of Coke's North American profit.

Source: Advertising Age

IT'S A FIT, MAYBE

$9.6 billion was spent online for apparel in the United States last year. The problem: Not one of those customers tried anything on first- one reason online purchases represent a paltry 5 percent of overall apparel sales.

Of note: Customers return 30 percent of the clothes they buy online, industry executives say.

Source: The New York Times