Stocks Advance Despite Tepid Economic Data By: CNBC.com News May 30, 2013 at 09:50 AM EDT Stocks ticked higher after a flat open Thursday, as the latest round of tepid economic data suggested that the Fed's bond-buying program would remain intact. Read More >> Related Stocks: Alcoa Berkshire Hathaway Big Lots Costco Wholesale Facebook First Solar Splunk Inc