Closing Glance: Specialty retailers rise on economic reports

NEW YORK—Specialty retail shares rose Thursday following a mixed batch of economic reports, including a Commerce Department report showing consumers spent more in March, mainly from higher prices for energy and food.

Investors also weighed a report that said U.S. manufacturing contracted in April by less than expected.

Here's how some specialty retailers closed:

OfficeMax Inc. rose $1.30, or 7.1 percent, to close at $19.57.

Lowe's Companies Inc. jumped $1.08, or 4.3 percent, to close at $26.27.

Gap Inc. climbed 40 cents to close at $19.02.

TJX Cos. Inc. rose 78 cents to close at $33.