Company: Brown Shoe Company Inc

(Reuters) - The warmest U.S. winter in years fueled higher sales at footwear retailers Brown Shoe Inc <BWS.N> and Foot Locker Inc <FL.N>, and the companies are expected to benefit from tight inventory management in the next few quarters.

(Reuters) - The warmest U.S. winter in years fueled higher sales of running shoes and other footwear at Brown Shoe Inc <BWS.N> and Foot Locker Inc <FL.N>, and the companies are expected to benefit from tight inventory management in the next few quarters.

Stocks closed near session lows Friday, with all three major averages posting their worst weekly drop this year, as investors were cautious ahead of the weekend amid fears over the euro zone and euphoria over Facebook's trading debut fizzled.

U.S. stock index futures were higher Friday, struggling to recover from a string of recent declines, and ahead of Facebook's widely-anticipated trading debut later this morning.