Friday

U.S. stocks pushed higher today despite the strongest earthquake to hit Japan in at least 300 years. Some companies benefited from expectations for increased demand from rebuilding efforts. Investors were also relieved that protests in Saudi Arabia remained fairly orderly. Today's round of U.S. economic data came in mixed. U.S. retail sales rose less than expected, and consumer sentiment dropped back. But U.S. business sales increased in January by the largest amount in 10 months, while inventories grew more than expected as companies anticipated greater demand. DJIA +59.79 Nasdaq +14.59 S&P 500 +9.17.