In Las Vegas, the housing market continued to struggle this year, but investors from Asia see opportunity there. They're taking advantage of housing prices that have plummeted in recent years, buying foreclosed homes for less than it would cost to build them.

Home prices have fallen 35 percent from their peak about six years ago and continue to drop. That makes lenders and potential homebuyers nervous, so sales aren't picking up much despite the lowest interest rates in decades. And the unsolved foreclosure mess continues to push prices down even more.

Sears Holdings announced Tuesday it will shutter at least 100 stores as a cost-cutting measure following a disappointing holiday season. The retailer's namesake Sears and Kmart stores have struggled against competitors such as Wal-Mart, Target and Home Depot. Sears says it will save as much as $170 million through the store closings. It did not say how many employees will lose their jobs.

Right now is a perfect moment for a liquidator. The economy is bad enough that big companies are going out of business, but good enough that customers will come and buy the stuff that's for sale.

Many business owners were outraged when Amazon.com released an app offering discounts on items that customers scanned in stores but later bought on Amazon. Jasmine Johnson started an online petition against Amazon's promotion techniques. She and technology culture reporter Omar Gallaga speak with host Michel Martin.

This holiday season, things didn't turn out so well for Sears Holdings — the company that owns Sears and Kmart. It plans to shut down up to 120 of its stores.