Business Today: Retail sales beat forecasts, point to firming growth

		Click to View in Browser 11/20/2013 Retail sales beat forecasts, point to firming growth WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A gauge of U.S. consumer spending rose more than expected in October as households bought a range of goods, suggesting upside momentum in the economy early in the fourth quarter. Futures edge higher after data NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures slightly added to gains after data showed consumer inflation remained muted and retail sales rose more than expected in October. J.C. Penney sees holiday quarter comparable sales improving (Reuters) - Struggling retailer J.C. Penney Co Inc on Wednesday said it was encouraged by business so far in November and forecast higher comparable store sales in the current holiday quarter. Hundreds of Chinese workers protest after Microsoft Nokia deal DONGGUAN, China (Reuters) - Hundreds of workers shouted slogans on Wednesday outside a Nokia factory in southern China to protest against what they called unfair compensation after the company sold its mobile telephones business to Microsoft Corp. Nissan unfazed by EV delays, dismisses rivals' fuel cell targets TOKYO (Reuters) - Carlos Ghosn, the CEO of Renault SA and Nissan Motor Co , said he was unfazed by delays in his electric vehicle sales targets, predicting rivals would face even greater obstacles in their plans to launch fuel cell car sales over the next few years. Lowe's raised forecast falls short of analysts' estimates (Reuters) - Lowe's Cos Inc's quarterly profit slightly missed Wall Street estimates, and the No. 2 home improvement chain did not raise its fiscal-year outlook as much as analysts had hoped, sending its shares lower. Britain's Cameron: Alarm bells should have rung over Co-op's Flowers LONDON (Reuters) - British Prime Minister David Cameron said on Wednesday that investigators must find out how disgraced former banker Paul Flowers was allowed to hold his position as chairman of Britain's Co-operative Bank. Shares, dollar sag ahead of Fed minutes LONDON (Reuters) - Investors locked in some of the gains that have taken world stock markets to six-year highs on Wednesday as they waited to see what the mood was like at the U.S. Federal Reserve's most recent meeting. Staples sticks to forecast after sales miss estimates (Reuters) - Staples Inc , the largest U.S. office supply retailer, reported lower-than-expected third-quarter sales, citing weak demand and a stronger dollar. Wall Street banks must abandon 'cottage industry' model: McKinsey NEW YORK (Reuters) - The biggest Wall Street banks have not done nearly enough to boost shareholder returns, despite years of cost-cutting and tailoring balance sheets to a more profitable mix, consulting firm McKinsey & Co said in a report released on Wednesday. Related Video The new way to advertise at Xmas Nokia chooses cash over nostalgia Economic News Retail sales beat forecasts, point to firming growth Bernanke: Fed committed to easy policy for as long as needed A daily digest of breaking business news, coverage of the US economy, major corporate news and the financial markets. Register Today   The latest Reuters articles on M&A, IPOs, private equity, hedge funds and regulatory updates delivered to your inbox each day. Register Today   » MORE NEWSLETTERS - 3 Times Square New York, NY 10036 USA © Copyright 2010 Thomson Reuters Ensure delivery of Reuters Newsmails, add mail@nl.reuters.com to your address book. Details Subscribe to other Reuters newsletters. Unsubscribe from this newsletter. Follow us on Twitter Friend us on Facebook Forward to a friend