Bloomberg The final numbers are in, and the past holiday season was indeed one of the best since the last recession—even if everyone didn’t partake in the good fortune. Sales rose 5.5 percent to $691.9 billion during November and December, the National Retail Federation said. The results exclude spending on cars, gas and restaurants. E-commerce and other sales that occur …

Bloomberg The New Year’s rally has pushed the S&P 500 Index to its best start since the administration of George W. Bush. Now it’s bumping against speed barriers that marked the upper limits of bull markets for decades. Up eight times in the first nine days of 2018, the S&P 500 has broken away from a trend line, its 200-day …

Bloomberg The pound’s rally, spurred by hopes of a soft Brexit, may be vulnerable this week to heightened sensitivity to comments from European Union leaders on the prospects of such a deal. Sterling rose to its highest level since just after Britain’s EU referendum after signs emerged that some countries want a Brexit deal that keeps the UK as close …