Stocks End Volatile Day Mixed

Updated from 4:08 p.m. EST

Stocks on Wall Street pared early losses, prompted in part by disappointing retail sales numbers, to close mixed Thursday after the president elect delivered an urgent call to action with his economic recovery plan for the nation.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average down 118 points earlier in the session, ended lower by 27.24 points, or 0.3%, at 8742.46. The S&P 500 edged up 3.08 points, or 0.3%, at 909.73, and the Nasdaq gained 17.95 points, or 1.1%, to 1617.01.

The morning got off to a bleak start on Wall Street as retail numbers began to roll in much lower than expected. Retail, bank and U.S. automaker stocks posted the biggest declines on the Dow. Alcoa(AA Quote) and Microsoft(MSFT Quote) stood out with gains - 4.3% and 3.1% -- for the day after having led the decliners a day prior.

Wal-Mart (WMT Quote) shed 7.5% to $51.38, after it said December same-store sales were worse than Wall Street expected and reined in its fourth quarter guidance. Macy's (M Quote), which said it will close underperforming stores, sank 3.4% to $10.93.

Target (TGT Quote) and Costco (COST Quote) said same-store sales fell about 4%. Target and Costco shares managed to improve 1.1% and 1.4%, nonetheless.

Gap (GPS Quote) said December sales fell 12%, and Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF Quote) said sales slumped 18% and same-store sales took a 24% hit. Gap slipped 4.7% to $12.92, while Abercrombie declined 3.5% to $22.91.

A bright spot, Sears (SHLD Quote) shares added 23.3% to $49.98 after the company forecast quarterly profit above Wall Street estimates.