Consumer discretionary stocks rose amid generally strong earnings in the sector.

Discounter Target is under pressure to make progress on turnaround plans in its earnings report Aug. 20 following a weak internal survey of employee sentiment, The Wall Street Journal reported.

"Stagflation talk is in the air," said J.D. Joyce, president of Houston financial advisory Joyce Wealth Management.

While recent employment data has been "pretty ugly," corporations' recession fears appear to be fading, based on commentary on the subject in earnings conference calls, Joyce said.


Write to Rob Curran at rob.curran@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

08-11-25 1836ET