Business News: Holiday Shopping

U.S. traders stay at home for the holiday, and global markets tick up in gains. Will holiday cheer give retailers hope for a big Black Friday turnout? Stan Case reports in today's Business Brief.

U.S. MARKETS WERE CLOSED THURSDAY IN OBSERVANCE OF THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY, BUT EUROPEAN AND ASIAN STOCK MARKETS ROSE, BUOYED BY THE DOW'S 247 POINT GAIN WEDNESDAY.

INDIA'S FINANCIAL MARKETS WERE CLOSED THURSDAY FOLLOWING THE MUMBAI ATTACKS. ANALYSTS BELIEVE TOURISM WILL SUFFER BUT IT'S TOO EARLY TO SAY WHETHER THERE WILL BE ANY LONG TERM DAMAGE TO THE ECONOMY.

AND RETAILERS ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING BLACK FRIDAY SHOPPERS...HOPING THE HOLIDAY SHOPPING SEASON'S SALES WILL BE BUOYANT...

EQUALLY ANXIOUS SHOPPERS ARE LOOKING FOR BARGAINS.

THE NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION EXPECTS HOLIDAY SALES TO RISE 2.2 PERCENT THIS YEAR, WHICH WOULD STILL BE THE WEAKEST GAIN IN 6 YEARS.

BLACK FRIDAY COULD BE "BLEAK FRIDAY."