The stakes were high this holiday season for the operator of Sears department stores and the Kmart discount chain. The company's sales have fallen every year since 2005, when Lampert merged two of America's iconic retail chains, Kmart and Sears Roebuck and Co, in an $11 billion deal.
*Kmart same-store sales drop 3.7 percent. Feb 28- Sears Holdings Corp reported stronger-than-expected quarterly results on lower costs, sending shares of the operator of its namesake department stores and the Kmart discount chain up nearly 3 percent on Thursday.
*Home Depot earnings, sales beat analysts' estimates. Feb 26- Home Depot Inc posted better-than-expected earnings on Tuesday, helped by a nascent recovery in the U.S. housing market and rebuilding efforts in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
*Proposal would bring Canada more in line with U.S. *Quebec plans a more far-reaching plan.
U.S. stock index futures rose across the board following the upbeat S&P/Case-Shiller home price report and a day after the Dow and S&P 500 logged their worst one-day performance in 2013 amid worries about Italy's election result.
Feb 26- Improvements in the U.S. housing market and sales tied to Hurricane Sandy helped Home Depot Inc report a higher-than-expected quarterly profit and outshine rival Lowe's Cos Inc for the 15th straight quarter.
Feb 26- Home Depot Inc reported a higher quarterly profit, aided by improvements in the U.S. housing market and sales tied to Hurricane Sandy, helping the world's No. 1 home improvement chain outshine rival Lowe's Cos Inc for the 15th straight quarter.
*VIX, Wall St's fear gauge, scores biggest jump since Aug. 18, 2011. NEW YORK, Feb 25- U.S. stocks on Monday suffered their biggest drop since November after a strong showing in Italian elections by groups opposed to the country's economic reforms triggered worry that Europe's debt problems could once again destabilize the global economy.