Stocks declined Tuesday as investors expressed their disappointment in Wal-Mart's outlook, HP's deal and a slew of other news. Surprising resilience in retail sales, excluding autos, helped curb losses. The Nasdaq eked out a gain, led by Yahoo.

Stocks declined Tuesday as investors juggled a mixed bag of news: Retail sales outside of the hard-hit auto sector showed suprising resilience, while a well-known analyst cut her outlook for big banks. Wal-Mart skidded after the discount giant posted decent results but issued a tepid outlook.

TJX Cos Tuesday posted higher quarterly profit as the off-price retailer kept overhead costs in check and saw sales rise at most of its chains.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, said  quarterly profit rose  7 percent, helped by bargain-hungry US consumers looking for discounts on necessities like food and pharmacy items.

Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, reported a 7 percent rise in quarterly profit on Tuesday as discounts drew U.S. shoppers looking for bargains on necessities like food and pharmacy items.

Stocks declined Tuesday as investors juggled a mixed bag of news: Retail sales outside of the hard-hit auto sector showed suprising resilience, while a well-known analyst cut her outlook for big banks. Wal-Mart skidded after the discount giant posted decent results but issued a tepid outlook.

U.S. office supplies retailer Staples raised its hostile offer for Corporate Express by more than 10 percent, valuing its target at about 1.5 billion euros ($2.3 billion), and said the Dutch business products wholesaler was still refusing to talk.

Chinese retail sales powered ahead in April, providing welcome evidence for policy makers that sturdy domestic demand is taking up slack in the economy left by softening exports.

AnnTaylor Stores raised its first-quarter earnings forecast on Monday, citing lower inventories and improvement at its LOFT chain, sending shares of the women's clothing retailer up 11.5 percent.

Italian luxury brands Prada and Ferragamo look likely to wait for better market conditions to list their shares, probably after the summer, financial sources said, but competing timing could hurt their plans.

If energy and food prices continue to surge, consumers aren't going to be able to keep up, which would have a huge impact on the economy -- and stocks.  Still,  the market doesn't seem worried.

Circuit City Stores said Friday that it will allow Blockbuster and the movie-rental company's largest shareholder, Carl Icahn, to conduct due diligence in connection with Blockbuster's proposed acquisition of Circuit City.

European earnings were relatively subdued on Friday, with bad news coming out of German financial services Allianz as its Dresdner Bank unit posted a quarterly operating loss.

Oil prices have soared nearly 10 percent in the past four sessions alone, and CNBC asked the experts for insights and answers.

Stocks bounced back from the prior session's slide, led by techs and materials, as techs staged a rebound and materials benefited from higher metal prices. Better-than-expected retail sales also buoyed the market.  Financials declined after federal regulators proposed increased oversight of investment banks.