8:00AM Retailers report November same-store sales.
The U.S. largest retailers posted mostly disappointing sales results in November, reflecting sluggish sales in the first half of the month. Wal-Mart Stores, Costco Wholesale Club and J.C. Penney were among the early retailers, posting weaker-than-expected numbers. At the same time, retailers like Limited Brands and Target Corp reported better-than-expected monthly same-store sales.

Limited Brands Inc. (LTD: chart) reported November same-store sales increase of 12%, exceeding estimated figure of 7.8%. Target Corp. (TGT: chart) said that its November sales at stores open at least one year rose 5.9%, slightly above expectations of 5.7% increase. Total sales for the month rose 11.7% to $5.12 billion.

Nordstrom (JWN: chart) said Thursday that November same-store sales rose 5.4%, meeting analysts' average estimate. Total sales gained 6.1% to $749.4 million.

Costco Wholesale Corp., (COST: chart), warehouse retailer, reported November same-store sales up 5%, slightly below estimates of 5.7%. Costco same-store revenue in November rose 4% in the U.S. and 10% internationally. Company’s total sales climbed 9% to $4.84 billion. Comparable-store sales for the 13 weeks through Nov. 26 climbed 4%, while total sales rose 8% to $14.99 billion. Bebe ((BEBE)0, women’s-wear retailer, also fell short of estimates, with same-store sales that were up 5.8% below the 7.9% expected

Wal-Mart (WMT: chart) said Thursday its November sales at U.S. stores open at least one year fell 0.1%. Analysts had been expecting the retailer to post flat same-store sales numbers. Total sales for the four weeks rose 11.9% to $28.57 billion from $25.53 billion. The world''s biggest retailer projected flat to 1% higher comparable store sales in December.

Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN: chart), women''s clothing retailer, announced its November same-store sales fell 4.3%, down from the expected drop of 2.3%, blaming unusually warm weather for the season. Net sales rose 2.1% to $186.4 million. The Gap (GSP: chart) reported on Thursday that November same-store sales fell 8%, lower than the forecast for a drop of 5.4%.


7:30AM Asian markets gain on Thursday, tracking strong US close overnight.
Asian markets finished higher on Thursday. The Nikkei 225 Average finished the day 1.2% higher at 16274.33. Among banking stocks, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group rose 2.1%, Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group climbed 3.4% and Mizuho Financial Group ended 1.4% higher. In the auto sector, Toyota gained 1.3% and Honda advanced 2.2%.

The Hang Seng Index in Hong Kong rose 1% to close at 18960.48. Advancers included Yue Yuen Industrial Holdings, which rose on news that it agreed to raise its stakes in two units for $6 million. Shares of the world largest sports shoe maker closed 7% higher.

South Korean Kospi Index gained 0.7% to 1432.21. Samsung Electronics gained 1.4% and Hynix Semiconductor rose 0.7%. Brokerage shares rose on a foreign and institutional buying spree on expectations for the broader market next year. Samsung Securities advanced 1.5% and Daewoo Securities jumped 3.4%.

Shanghai Composite Index soared 2.2% to finish at 2099.29. Baoshan Iron finished 5.9% higher. Australian S&P/ASX 200 increased 0.5% to 5482.10. BHP Billiton saw a solid rise of 1.5% and Woodside Petroleum rose 2.9%, both stocks benefiting from higher oil prices.


6:30AM European shares rise in early trading Thursday as oil prices advance.
European markets were higher on Thursday. The U.K. FTSE 100 index advanced 0.3% at 6,100.50, the German DAX Xetra 30 index climbed 0.2% at 6,375.28, and the French CAC-40 index rose 0.1% at 5,388.28.

Advancers

BHP, the biggest mining company in the world, added 2.1%. BHP said yesterday that demand for metals is strong and it may look for takeover targets. Rio Tinto, the third largest, gained 2.3%. Aluminum and zinc prices rose in London today and gold headed for a second straight monthly gain.
Oil companies Royal Dutch Shell and BP rose more than 1%, and shares in mining companies Xstrata and Antofagasta also traded more than 1% higher.

Sportingbet shares rose 4.3% on Thursday, as the online gambling company recovers from an 88% year-to-date share price decline on a ban in taking payments from the United States. Also, Prudential shares rose 1.2% after it was upgraded to buy from hold at Citigroup, saying that by 2010 it is free cash yield will be well above its U.K. peers, at 7.1% compared to 5.5%.

Decliners

Danone shares traded down 1.1% in Paris after a strong recent run. U.K.-headquartered home improvement retailer Kingfisher lost 2.1% after producing sales figures that showed continued weakness in U.K. operations.

Oil and gold