Retail Sales
NEW YORK - The dollar rose Friday to its highest level against the euro since early October as a report showed the holiday shopping season could be brighter than had been anticipated, raising speculation that the Federal Reserve could raise interest rates in the first half of 2010.
WASHINGTON - Signs of a strengthening global recovery emerged Friday, with consumers boosting retail sales, companies restoring stockpiles and Chinese exports mounting a comeback.
NEW YORK - Encouraging news about how consumers feel about the economy and how much they're spending sent stocks higher on Friday.
OMAHA, Neb. - A new survey of rural bankers from 11 Midwest and Plains states suggests that middle America's farm economy is still hurting but slowly recovering.
