South Africa Eyes ECB Repo Lines as Inflation Eases and Rate Cuts Loom 
SpaceX Pivots Toward Moon City as Musk Reframes Long-Term Space Vision 
UK Starting Salaries See Strongest Growth in 18 Months as Hiring Sentiment Improves 
Sony Q3 Profit Jumps on Gaming and Image Sensors, Full-Year Outlook Raised 
American Airlines CEO to Meet Pilots Union Amid Storm Response and Financial Concerns 
RBI Holds Repo Rate at 5.25% as India’s Growth Outlook Strengthens After U.S. Trade Deal 
Prudential Financial Reports Higher Q4 Profit on Strong Underwriting and Investment Gains 
Vietnam’s Trade Surplus With US Jumps as Exports Surge and China Imports Hit Record 
Once Upon a Farm Raises Nearly $198 Million in IPO, Valued at Over $724 Million 
Hims & Hers Halts Compounded Semaglutide Pill After FDA Warning 
Russian Stocks End Mixed as MOEX Index Closes Flat Amid Commodity Strength 
China Extends Gold Buying Streak as Reserves Surge Despite Volatile Prices 
Australian Pension Funds Boost Currency Hedging as Aussie Dollar Strengthens 
Amazon Stock Rebounds After Earnings as $200B Capex Plan Sparks AI Spending Debate 
Asian Currencies Stay Rangebound as Yen Firms on Intervention Talk 
Japanese Pharmaceutical Stocks Slide as TrumpRx.gov Launch Sparks Market Concerns 
Target has ended its operations on Thanksgiving, and this means that starting in 2021, it will no longer open its stores during the festive national holiday that is being celebrated every year. Last year, the American retail chain closed its doors on Thanksgiving but at that time, it was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year, Target will remain close on Thanksgiving and it was announced that this week that the company made the decision to have all of its outlets close during the Thanksgiving celebration from now on. "What started as a temporary measure driven by the pandemic is now our new standard," Brian Cornell, Target's chief executive officer, said in a letter that was sent to employees.
The CEO explained that he decided to make the no work on Thanksgiving day policy permanent after employees told him they were happy they could stay at home during the holiday. He met the said workers after visiting stores in New Jersey and New York last week.
CNN Business reported that most of the retail chains were forced to close on Thanksgiving last year. This year, it was said that they would be close again but unlike Target, brands like Walmart, Best Buy, and Dick's Sporting Goods did not say if this will be a permanent policy for them too.
Business observers noted that Target's announcement earlier this week simply showed how much holiday shopping has changed in the United States. It is not the same as before where the stores get really filled up with shoppers. In fact, the holiday is one of the busiest days for retailers as the demand is really high.
As per CNBC, the holiday sales in the U.S. from the months of November and December last year increased 8.2% compared to 2019. This year, trade experts predicted that sales could grow further by at least 8.5% and 10.5% because even if people are not dropping by the stores, the orders have been placed online. There are more deliveries these days and even the delivery companies' businesses have prospered due to the demand.
"What started as a temporary measure driven by the pandemic is now our new standard — one that recognizes our ability to deliver on our guests' holiday wishes both within and well beyond store hours," Target's chief added in his note to employees.
