U.S. stocks rise on Black Friday to post strong weekly gains

Date: Fri, 28 Nov 2008 17:01:34 -0500

U.S. stocks rise on Black Friday to post strong weekly gains

U.S. stocks end higher, leaving the market with monthly losses but
with large gains for a holiday-shortened week that saw investors
increasingly confident that much of a dire economic outlook already
has been priced in.

RETAILERS HOPE BlACK FRIDAY SETS TONE FOR HOLIDAY SEASON

Outside Minneapolis at the Mall of America, more than 5,000 shoppers
had lined up outside of the 520-store complex for free gifts and
"door-buster" specials by the time all the mall's stores opened at 6
a.m.

TOY BUSINESS FACES APPREHENSIVE CONSUMERS

America's retailers of toys want to make this gift-giving season an
easier sell for budget-conscious parents squeezed by the deteriorating
economy.

HEDGE FUNDS: HEDGE FUNDS TRY TO HOLD BACK WAVE OF INVESTOR REDEMPTIONS

Hundreds of hedge funds will shut this year as an estimated wave of as
much as $700 billion in investor redemptions crashes over the
industry, but some managers are trying to hold back the tsunami.

ASIA MARKETS: HONG KONG EXTENDS RALLY, MUMBAI TRADING VOLATILE

Most Asian markets advance Friday, with Hong Kong and South Korean
shares taking gains into a fourth straight session, paced by banks as
investors snap up beaten-down lenders such as Industrial Bank of Korea
and HSBC Holdings.