Many retailers have bumped back deadlines and are offering deals on express shipping due to the storm that hammered the East Coast, Businessweek.com reported. Amazon.com Inc., Macy’s Inc.’s Web site, and J.C. Penney Co. Inc. all have deals. The moves are bids to garner business from snowed-in shoppers but could also benefit last-minute shoppers and those who had expected to be able to shop this past weekend but had travel issues.

The Senate voted early Monday morning to end debate on a package of controversial revisions to the $871 billion healthcare-reform bill, CNNMoney.com reported. The vote – a 60-40 party-line vote – keeps the Senate Democrats on track to get the bill passed on Christmas Eve. If it passes, it will have to be merged with an approximately $1 trillion plan that was passed by the House in November. Read the full story.

The dollar is making a comeback. It is rallying in tandem with stocks and commodities for the first time since before Lehman Bros. Holdings Inc.’s bankruptcy last year, Bloomberg.com reported. The U.S. dollar index rose at the fastest rate in 10 months and currency, equities and raw materials are on pace for their first two-month gain since 2008. Read the full story.

Third-quarter 2009 after-tax profits of U.S. retail corporations with assets of $50 million or more totaled $11.5 billion, which was down $1.6 billion from the $13.1 billion recorded in the previous quarter. That number, however, is up $3.2 billion from the $8.3 billion one year ago. See the full release.