BlackBerry-maker Research in Motion saw its shares slump today after warning Wall Street that it's forecasting an operating loss for the first quarter. With the company hiring bankers at JPMorgan and RBC to explore a sale, investors worried and layoffs looming, the Canadian government dismissed rumors of a possible takeover.

Other brand news:

Best Buy store closures spur Walmart ads.

NYC mayor Michael Bloomberg bans sale of large sodas and sugary drinks.

GM is shifting Chevrolet ad budget from Super Bowl to sponsoring the popular Manchester United soccer team.

Disney Channel joins the TV Everywhere brigade.

Exxon Mobil shareholders approve executive pay.Continue reading...

Acura makes the Sundance Festival a stage.

Airbus fixes cracked A380 wings as fault found.

Facebook marketer Buddy Media finds business is booming.

GE finds in study that shared content ranks higher with consumers than paid placement.

GM CEO offers resolute defense of Volt before Congress.

Illumina adopts poison pill against Roche.

J.C. Penney "reinvents" department-store retailing.

Netflix looks ahead as it returns to subscriber growth.Continue reading...

Coca-Cola, Pepsi to move nutrition facts to the front of labels. [WSJ]

The Grey Group takes away all but 3 of its offices for an open-plan space. [NY Times]

Sally Hansen, N.Y.C. New York Colors, La Cross purchased by Laird. [Adweek]

Pajama Jeans create competition for the now-infamous Snuggie. [BrandFreak]

Cadbury's Somerdale factory will close, causing a loss of 400 jobs. [Daily Mail]

Microsoft follows Apple in scooping up web domains. [TechCrunch]Continue reading...