Retail Stocks Rise 1.5%

The first day of the second quarter brought good news to investors as retail shares logged their fifth strongest day of the year.

The S&P 500 Retailing Industry Group retook the 900 mark with a 1.5 percent gain to end the trading session at 903.52. The index had closed below 900 every day since March 24, and the 1.5 percent gain was the highest since retail stocks advanced 1.9 percent on Feb. 25.