Retail Stocks Will Shine This Season Due to Lower Oil, More Jobs

Consumer discretionary stocks will continue to rally through the holiday season and into the new year, said Michael Arone, Chief Investment Strategist for SSgA's U.S. Intermediary Business Group. Arone added that retailers are benefiting from the improving employment picture, lower oil prices and rising consumer confidence. He said the American middle class are seeing wage gains and that will help department stores and mid-price retailers. Meanwhile, Arone said shoppers are changing their behavior in the internet age so Black Friday and Cyber Monday results are not as important as they used to be.