Dow gains as retail sales rise

The blue chip index was up 63.34 points (0.72%) to 8802.36 as retail sales rose 0.5% as forecast after a 0.2% drop in April, according to the Commerce Department. Bank of America Corp is the biggest winner so far, jumping 2.5% to $12.28. The bank had its 2009/10 profit estimates raised at Morgan Stanley, which cited higher expected income. Morgan Stanley estimates Bank of America Corp will earn 52 cents a share in 2009 and $2.64 in 2010. However, Home Depot has not been buoyed by consumer sales news, shedding 0.86% to $24.18. The only financial in the bottom five, JPMorgan Chase is do...