LONDON (ShareCast) - - Geithner says US is considering release from strategic oil reserve-CNBC
- Arab states push for more forceful intervention in Syria.
- Sears soars after divestment proposals
- Salesforce.com gets the right numbers

While the venerable Dow Jones index span its wheel on Fridays, finishing the day little moved, the S&P 500 edged up to its highest level since June 2008, buoyed by some decent economic data and solid corporate updates.

Retailer Sears led the way after the company announced plans on Thursday to sell 11 stores and some other businesses as it seeks to raise as much as $770m.

Helpdesk software firm Salesforce.com was also on a charge, as it said customer invoice amounts in the fourth quarter were up 57% year-on-year, comfortably ahead of market expectations.

Advertising firm Interpublic Group gave itself a leg-up with news of a planned $300m share buy-back programme. Health insurer Aetna was on the same kick, announcing it will buy back $295m of its own shares.

Recovery stock AIG was wanted following its quarterly results, but footwear firms Crocs and Deckers Outdoor were both given the boot by investors after disappointing with earnings guidance. Clothing retailer Gap was another hammered after profits guidance underwhelmed.

JP Morgan has reiterated its overweight stance on shares of Apple ahead of the World Mobile Congress on Monday.

Cable company Comcast sent Sprint backwards when it said it is suing a unit of the telecoms firm, alleging the infringement of four patents.

MACROECONOMY

US consumer confidence rose to 75.3 points in February, according to the latest survey from the University of Michigan.

New home sales rose more than expected in January, to an annualized rate of 321,000 (Consensus: 315,000).

OTHER MARKETS

The price of West Texas sweet light crude for April delivery rose $1.94 to $109.77 a barrel in NYMEX trading.

10-year US Treasuries for their part gained 6/32 dollars with yields at 1.98%.

S&P 500 - Risers
Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) $68.31 +10.53%
Salesforce.Com Inc. (CRM) $143.64 +9.01%
Interpublic Group of Companies Inc. (IPG) $11.66 +6.87%
Boston Scientific Corp. (BSX) $6.25 +5.93%
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. (RRD) $14.10 +4.06%
Iron Mountain Inc. (IRM) $31.47 +4.03%

S&P 500 - Fallers
Valero Energy Corp. (VLO) $24.38 -5.50%
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) $35.58 -4.35%
Gap Inc. (GPS) $22.57 -4.04%
Tesoro Corp. (TSO) $27.70 -3.59%
Masco Corp. (MAS) $11.57 -3.02%

Dow Jones I.A - Risers
American Express Co. (AXP) $53.33 +1.25%
Pfizer Inc. (PFE) $21.18 +0.71%
Chevron Corp. (CVX) $109.08 +0.67%

Dow Jones I.A - Fallers
Bank of America Corp. (BAC) $7.88 -1.75%
Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) $26.64 -1.52%
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) $64.45 -1.00%

Nasdaq 100 - Risers
Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) $68.31 +10.53%
Logitech International S.A. (LOGI) $8.89 +2.42%
Cognizant Technology Solutions Corp. (CTSH) $72.18 +2.24%
Citrix Systems Inc. (CTXS) $75.16 +1.87%
Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) $29.62 +1.65%
Fiserv Inc. (FISV) $66.87 +1.56%
Baidu Inc. (BIDU) $134.89 +1.54%
Oracle Corp. (ORCL) $29.25 +1.53%
Wynn Resorts Ltd. (WYNN) $118.10 +1.51%

Nasdaq 100 - Fallers
Nll Holdings Inc. (NIHD) $20.25 -4.53%
First Solar Inc. (FSLR) $35.58 -4.35%
Marvell Technology Group Ltd. (MRVL) $15.46 -3.71%
Dish Network Corp. (DISH) $28.80 -2.77%
Comcast Corp. (CMCSA) $29.19 -2.08%
Warner Chilcott Plc (WCRX) $16.33 -2.04%
KLA-Tencor Corp. (KLAC) $47.75 -1.65%
Autodesk Inc. (ADSK) $37.62 -1.52%
Electronic Arts Inc. (EA) $16.93 -1.51%

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