Friday morning headlines

Stocks are down?: That's right, despite a strong jobs report. Dow is off about 20 points - something about Europe.

Nice jobs report - but what about California?: See post below.

Weak December for Best Buy: Sales fell 1.2 percent, though the numbers apparently improved later in the month. From the WSJ:

By category, areas of strength domestically included tablets and mobile phones, e-readers and appliances. Tablets and e-readers each delivered low triple-digit same-store sales gains, while mobile phones had a 20% same-store sales increase, driven by strong smart phone sales. Meanwhile, gaming and digital imaging both saw low double-digit declines in same-store sales. Televisions posted a mid single-digit decline.

Higher gas prices: An average gallon of regular in the L.A. area was up 8.6 cents, to $3.698, according to the Auto Club. From the LAT:

[Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst for the Oil Price Information Service], cited three potential causes: "International worries about a second Arab Spring will combine with domestic concerns about U.S. refinery maintenance and the closure of at least two critical East Coast refineries" to push prices higher. In addition, U.S. refiners have been exporting record amounts of diesel fuel as they pursue profits from foreign buyers, causing an increase in diesel production at the expense of gasoline production. Tighter gasoline supplies mean higher prices.

Burkle's show business plays: The L.A. billionaire has purchased Artist Group International, a concert booking firm, and taken a stake in independent movie studio Relativity Media. (LAT)

Taft building sold: The historic 12-story tower at the corner of Hollywood and Vine is being purchased by DLJ Real Estate Capital Partners for about $28 million. The building has housed the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the offices of Charlie Chaplin and Will Rogers. (THR)

Parent of Chevys, El Torito for sale: Several parties have expressed interest in the OC-based Real Mex Restaurants, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last October. Bids are due Jan. 20. (OC Register)