Retail Stocks Pressured; Dollar Tree Upgraded

NEW YORK -- Retail stocks fell on Wednesday after December U.S. housing starts fell more than expected and chain-store sales for the week ended Jan. 15 posted their smallest gain since May 22. The S&P Retail Index fell 0.5% to 505.19. Home-improvement retailers Home Depot Inc. and its smaller rival Lowe's Cos. were both among sector decliners. Dollar Tree Inc. shares rose 2.5% after the discounter was upgraded to overweight by Morgan Stanley. Off-price retailer TJX Cos. shares were up 0.4%. GE Capital Retail Consumer Finance, a unit of General Electric Co., said it's acquiring TJX's existing credit card program assets from J. P. Morgan for an undisclosed amount.