Retailers' results lead market after wobbly start

May 22, 2009 at 12:20p.m.

NEW YORK (AP) — Investors are setting aside some of their worries about the U.S. government's credit rating and scooping up shares of retail stocks.

Several retailers have posted better-than-expected results including Sears, Gap and Aeropostale Inc. The enthusiasm about retail is helping outweigh concerns that bubbled up Thursday about the debt loads being taken on by governments.

At midday, the Dow Jones industrial average is up 50 at 8,343. The Standard & Poor's 500 index is up 5 at 893 and the Nasdaq composite index is up 8 at 1,703.