NEW YORK (AP) Stocks are rising in early trading as investors sift through mixed sales figures from major retailers.
Though many retailers performed poorly in March, some discount retailers like Wal-Mart Stores Inc. are seeing sales rise.
Meanwhile, the government has issued a better-than-expected reading on Americans' claims for unemployment benefits.
In early trading, the Dow Jones industrial average is up about 34 points at the 12,562 level.