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U.S. stocks rose about 1 percent on Friday as mildly encouraging retail sales put the S&P on track for a two-day winning streak for the first time since mid-July as investors shrugged off weak consumer sentiment data.

U.S. stocks rose about 1 percent on Friday as mildly encouraging retail sales put the S&P on track for a two-day winning streak for the first time since mid-July as investors shrugged off weak consumer sentiment data.

The U.S. Postal Service is considering a plan to cut 120,000 jobs. But Congress would have to approve the move, and postal worker unions will strongly oppose the plan. The USPS is bleeding money, and nearing default.

Consumer sentiment worsened sharply in early August, falling to the lowest index level since 1980, even though retail sales posted the biggest gains in three months in July, separate reports on Friday showed.

Gold and silver mining company stocks fell Friday as the broader equity markets posted gains, extending for a second day their rebound from this month's horrendous downdraft.

Gold prices fell on Friday, extending the previous session's retreat from record highs as fresh strength in equity markets and gains in the euro versus the safe-haven Swiss franc pointed to sharper appetite for risk.

U.S. July retail sales moved higher, according to the Commerce Department, and stock markets advanced on the report Friday.

Retail sales in July posted their biggest gain since March, tempering fears that the world's largest economy might be slipping back into recession.

Stock index futures pointed to a higher open on Friday after the previous day's big move up as data showed retail sales posted their biggest gain since March.

Retail sales in July posted their biggest gain since March, tempering fears that the world's largest economy might be slipping back into recession.

Retail sales in July posted their biggest gain since March, tempering fears that the world's largest economy might be slipping back into recession.

Handing out flyers at the corner of 47th Street and Fifth Avenue in New York City's Diamond District, Mariabi Peenya is having trouble finding passersby eager to sell their gold jewelry for cash.

A surge in prices to all-time highs has galvanized the French retail gold market, for long a dusty corner beloved of coin investors, drawing in ordinary punters but also the unwelcome attention of armed robbers.

Gold prices eased in Europe on Friday, extending the previous session's retreat from record highs, as fresh strength in equity markets and gains in the euro versus the safe-haven Swiss franc pointed to sharper appetite for risk.

Zulily, a top flash-sales website founded by former Blue Nile (NILE.O) executives, said on Thursday it raised $43 million to expand further.

Is fashion chain Forever 21 pushing a strong Christian agenda, with its recent launch of shirts featuring religious words? The shirts, which retail around $14 dollars, target mainly teens and include text such as "Love, peace, faith, hope, Jesus," "God,", "Believe in me," "Three words to live by: prayer faith and trust," and "Never doubt,", among others.

Gold recoiled after tapping a new record on Thursday, tumbling more than 2 percent as an equities rebound and higher trading margins fanned profit-taking from the biggest rally since 2008.

Nokia is getting closer and closer to losing the top spot in terms of phones shipped globally as its share continues to sink.

Apple has passed Exxon Mobil to become the world's most valuable company. Now it's time to ask what company make be next in line to make such a rise. At the moment, all indications point to Amazon.com.

U.S. stock futures rose 1 percent on Thursday after a sharp drop on Wall Street overnight, limiting losses in Asian share markets, though the focus was shifting to how Europe reacts to a sovereign debt crisis that is now threatening its banking system.

Massachusetts has been dubbed "Taxachusetts" by critics of the state's taxes but at least for this weekend residents will get a break.