Better-than-expected, Stocks Up | featured news

Stocks are shaking off a two-week slump after a report on retail sales wasn't as bad as economists had predicted... The government said Tuesday that retail sales edged down 0.2 percent last month, the first decline in nearly a year. That was slightly better than analysts were expecting. Americans bought fewer cars during the month, but the decline reflected temporary supply chain disruptions caused by the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan. Excluding weak car sales, retail sales rose 0.3 percent.

U.S. stocks rose broadly, with investors encouraged by a government report that job losses were less than expected in February.

Rising oil prices and better-than-expected earnings from Exxon Mobil boosted energy companies.