What weak consumer? Strong holiday shopping kickoff is a good sign for retailers

Despite sagging consumer sentiment, the holiday shopping season kicked off on a high note over the weekend — a positive signal for our retail stocks. Shares of several retail stocks are up on Monday, including Abercrombie & Fitch (+5%), Urban Outfitters (+5%), and Bath & Body Works (+10%). Portfolio names Amazon , Home Depot , TJX Companies , and Nike were also in the green in midday trading. The State Street SPDR S & P Retail ETF (XRT) added more than 1% on Monday, bringing its five-day gain to more than 7 ...