1. Other gainers in the Seattle area included Starbucks Corp., which has rebounded recently as strong economic reports bolstered optimism about retail stocks. 2. The manufacturing report came one day after a string of disappointing retail sales reports diminished optimism that Christmas sales will revive retailers and with them, the economy. 3. The report came a day after a string of disappointing retail sales reports diminished optimism that Christmas sales will revive retailers and with them, the economy. 4. U.S. bonds staged the biggest rally in two weeks after a manufacturing report fueled optimism that the economy is growing slowly enough to keep inflation at bay. 5. Yesterday, stocks were mixed after a string of disappointing retail sales reports diminished optimism that Christmas sales will revive retailers and with them, the economy. |