Sector Snap: Specialty apparel retailers

As retailers reported October same-store sales--or sales in stores open at least one year, a key retail metric--most missed expectations.

Amid the specialty sector, women's, or "missy," retailers have been hit hardest by the consumer spending slowdown, since women are likely to cut back on themselves first before their families.

Chico's FAS Inc. said same-store sales fell 13.4 percent. Still, results beat the 15.3 percent drop analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, on average, had predicted. Shares rose 15 cents, or 5.4 percent, to $2.92 during morning trading.

Cache Inc. said same-store sales fell 11 percent in October, a larger drop than the 9.4 percent analysts expected. Shares fell 6 cents, or 2 percent, to $3.

Gap Inc. on Thursday said its same-store sales for October fell 12 percent, as its Old Navy chain continued to struggle. Analysts expected an 11.1 percent drop. Shares rose 37 cents, or 2.9 percent, to $13.21.

American Apparel Inc. was among the best performers as same-store sales rose 22 percent. Shares rose 74 cents, or 12.5 percent to $6.64.