In Brief: H&M Reports… Gottschalks’ Wider Loss… Talmage Tapped For Solstice.

H&M REPORTS: Hennes & Mauritz reported Monday that its sales in November accelerated 14 percent thanks to store openings. The Swedish fast-fashion giant said same-store revenues inched up 1 percent versus November 2006. For its full fiscal year ended Nov. 30, H&M's sales increased 17 percent, or 5 percent on a same-store basis. H&M said it had 1,522 doors as of Nov. 30 compared with 1,345 in the year-ago period.

GOTTSCHALKS' WIDER LOSS: Gottschalks Inc. widened its loss in the third-quarter to $4.1 million, or 30 cents a diluted share, from a loss of $2.7 million, or 17 cents, last year. Sales for the quarter declined 7 percent to $137.4 million from $147.9 million, while same-store sales fell 5.1 percent. The company sited difficulty in its California stores due to home mortgages impacting the consumer. Gottschalks expects fourth-quarter earnings in the range of 40 cents to 50 cents a diluted share.