Markets managed to shrug off a big hit to tech stocks as investors instead focused on better-than-expected weekly jobless claims and some good news on retail same-store sales.
As a result, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and S&P 500 once again rose to new highs. The Dow finished ahead 0.42% at 14,865.14. The S&P 500 also surged ahead, closing 0.36% higher at 1,593.37, while the Nasdaq managed to squeeze out a fractional gain to close at 3,300.16.
A report by IDC told a tale of slumping worldwide PC sales, sending Dow components Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ, -6.45%), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT, -4.44%) and Intel (NASDAQ:INTC, -1.95%) tumbling.
But in the retail sector, off-price discounter Ross Stores (NASDAQ:ROST) rose to a six-month high, moving ahead nearly 6% on a 2% increase in comparable-store sales in March and a solid profit forecast for the current quarter.
Gap (NYSE:GPS) also reported better-than-anticipated same-store sales — although a 1% year-over-year decline — sending its shares up just under 2%. The overall good news also lifted sector mates Limited Brands (NYSE:LTD, +4.32%) and TJX Companies (NYSE:TJX, +2.59%) to even higher gains on the day.
Drugstore chain Rite Aid (NYSE:RAD) reported its first profit in six years as well, sending its shares up over 18% on the day. Also, Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ:BBBY) reported earnings in line with estimates and even better-than-expected revenue, but shares still lost just over 2% on the day.
Notable earnings releases for Friday include JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) and Wells Fargo (NYSE:WFC).
Three Up
- Lin Tv (NYSE:TVL): Up 10.65% ($1.23) to $12.78
- Rambus (NASDAQ:RMBS): Up 7.77% (49 cents) to $6.80
- Groupon (NASDAQ:GRPN): Up 5.24% (32 cents) to $6.43
Three Down
- Fortinet (NASDAQ:FTNT): Down 13.04% ($2.85) to $19.00
- Goodrich Petroleum (NYSE:GDP): down 4.61% (73 cents) to $15.12
- Chipotle (NYSE:CMG): Down 3.56% ($12.22) to $331.33
Marc Bastow is an Assistant Editor at InvestorPlace.com. As of this writing he is long MSFT.
