"These new tax laws affecting affiliates are supported by the large national retailing chains that covet the affiliate advertising programs of their competitors, " Paul Misener, Amazon's vice president of public policy, said in a statement.

WSJ: Large Retailers Push Amazon on Taxes

Getting Siam Makro back, meanwhile, would enable Mr. Dhanin to diversify into large-scale retailing in Thailand.

WSJ: Thailand's Charoen Heads Toward Takeover Fight

With the recession in the U.S. in the 1990s, payment terms from big U.S. chains turned harsh, however, and Lo started to withdraw from large-scale retailing in favor of art fairs, smaller exhibitions and shops.

FORBES

The market was weighed by sharp moves in large index constituent Fast Retailing Co.

WSJ: Tokyo Shares End Sharply Lower

That has helped to spawn of large number of fortunes in businesses such as real estate and retailing.

FORBES: Wealth, Bribes and Lies: Ten Years Of Tracking China's Richest

When people do buy toys they often shun the large toy retailers and head for discounters, notably Wal-Mart, which now dominates much of American retailing and has just launched a price war in some of the most popular toys, such as this year's must-buy, Hokey Pokey Elmo.

ECONOMIST: Even Santa might not help