The S&P 500 climbed to a new 2009 high last week, closing the week up 1.7% to 1,105.98. Nine out of 10 sectors posted gains, with energy as the only laggard. A flurry of good news fueled the market’s gains last week: Concerns surrounding Dubai’s debt situation began fading; the unemployment rate unexpectedly dipped to 10% from 10.2%; and Bank of America pledged to pay back the $45 billion of taxpayer money it borrowed.

Pops and drops
Here are the five biggest S&P 500 upticks and five biggest S&P 500 drops of last week (measured Friday close to Friday close):

Winners on the week:

Company

Percentage Gain on the Week

Big Lots (NYSE:BIG)

17%

Robert Half International

16%

Micron Technology

16%

Apartment Investment & Management

15%

Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE:AMD)

15%

Source: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's).

Losers on the week:

Company

Percentage Loss on the Week

GameStop (NYSE:GME)

(16%)

Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF)

(10%)

American International Group (NYSE:AIG)

(10%)

Family Dollar Stores (NYSE:FDO)

(9%)

UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH)

(7%)

Source: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's).

A closer look
Though there was a good deal of positive news, last week also told the story of disappointing retail sales for the month of November. Teen retailer Abercrombie & Fitch reported that comparable-store sales for the month of November tumbled 17%, worse than the 9% decline analysts were expecting. Total sales slipped 8%.

Family Dollar managed to post an increase in November same-store sales of 2.4%; however, analysts had expected an increase of 4%. Although traffic increased during the quarter, the average value of purchases was flat. Despite the shortfall, the discount retailer maintained first-quarter earnings guidance. Total net sales inched up nearly 4% for the month.

One retailer that managed to buck the downward trend was Big Lots. The discount retailer closed out a strong week after reporting better-than-expected third-quarter results and raising full-year and fourth-quarter guidance. Big Lots is taking advantage of the economic climate, given its status as a discount retailer. The firm opened 52 new stores this year -- more than expected -- as it seeks to take advantage of better-located property. However, the retailer is also closing 30 stores this year, down from the 40 it initially planned to close. Big Lots also said it would buy back $150 million in stock.

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