8/15 Dow Posts Modest Gaiin Due to Retail News

The Dow gained 43.97 to close at 11,659.90 while the S&P gained 5.27 to close at 1298.20. NASDAQ shed 6.82 to close at 1957.56. Retailers had better than expected earnings per share. Nordstrom (JWN 31.54 up 1.32), JCPenney (JCP 39.94 up 3.11), Kohls (KSS 51.79 up 3.52) & Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF 52.59 up .02) led the retail sector. A strong dollar caused oil to drop to less than 114 per barrel. The week saw the Dow lose .6%, the S&P gain .1% and NASDAQ gain a solid 1.6%. Have a great weekend, reporting from the nation's oldest city.