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Technology Stocks : Semi Equipment Analysis -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Return to Sender who wrote (7908)	12/30/2002 11:30:22 AM
From: Gottfried	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 95530

RtS, Lucas says >The U.S. retail sector now expects its worst end-of-year holiday sales season in 30 years< But from WSJ we hear low single digit y-o-y increases. If that's "worst in 30 years" I wish my portfolio did that well: >Penney Expects December Sales To Come In Ahead of Forecasts A WALL STREET JOURNAL ONLINE NEWS ROUNDUP J.C. Penney Co. said it expects December same-store sales to rise 4.5% from a year ago, as strong results in the days prior to Christmas led the retailer to top its own forecasts for the month. But Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it still expects only a modest gain in seasonal sales over last year despite "strong" sales in the few days before and after Christmas. A combination of a slow economy and a shortage of hot items has crimped sales this holiday season, retail analysts have said. In its weekly sales update, Penney, Plano, Texas, said the strongest product categories at its namesake department stores last week were fine jewelry, children's, home, and men's and women's accessories. The retailer still anticipates same-store catalogue sales to be down 20% for the month. Drug-store sales were expected to increase 6%, below expectations. Last week, Penney said it expected low-single-digit, same-store sales growth in December. Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said that for the week ending last Friday, sales were strongest in home furnishings, electronics, toys, health and beauty and seasonal items. Regionally, the Northeast and Midwest had the best showings. Gift-card sales were "very strong," the Bentonville, Ark., company said. Wal-Mart last week projected that holiday sales would rise 2% to 3% over 2001 for stores open at least a year, a retreat from its earlier projection of a 3%-to-5% increase. Sales at the Sam's Club warehouse store division likely will come in lower than a year earlier. Wal-Mart tracks its five-week holiday period from Nov. 30 through Jan. 3. Also Monday, Federated Department Stores Inc. said it expected December same-store sales to decline about 2.5%. Updated December 30, 2002 11:10 a.m. EST< subscribers online.wsj.com