LONDON-The credit crunch is leading to buying opportunities in overlooked markets, firm says.

While the coffee sector isn't too kind to Starbucks lately, McDonald's had a profitable second quarter due, in part, to its push into that beverage space. That's what WD Partners analyst Dennis Lombardi says in this MarketWatch audio interview where he talks about the fast-food giant's strong Q2. "People...

It seems like Hayward, CA-based department-store chain Mervyns is the next in line for closures or bankruptcy. We are seeing reports that the retailer, with most of its 177 stores on the West Coast, is no longer getting orders approved from suppliers. It's been years since we've entered a Mervyns, but...

The crew over at Serious Eats, drew our attention to a Google Map of the recently-reported Starbucks closures posted on CNNMoney.com. Isn't the Internet great? Click the image below to see the 600 places where it's shutting stores, down to the street corner. Any near you?

'We don't want to do things that we regret and hurt anyone else's business.'

'There are companies and private funds from the US that will be plenty willing to go abroad.'

'There are companies and private funds from the US that will be plenty willing to go abroad.'

We've found during our week-long escapade to Alaska an interesting retail climate. Some popular local chains in the area aren't all that interested in expanding, but they probably could do so and succeed. And on the other hand, national chains that seem to do well here, haven't over-stored the area...