But with expectations for its smaller rival too low, Lowe's may be the better investment.
Also, German economic sentiment drops.
The easy money has probably already been made.
Data show the country's manufacturing sector may be starting to recover.
New York's financial markets resumed trading as 'normal' Wednesday.
However, the home-improvement chains might not reap huge profits because of rising costs.
The hurricane could help October retail sales, but some experts see a potential negative impact transportation and hotel stocks.
The unquenchably ambitious coffee chain opens its first store in the world's second-most-populous nation. But it faces some cultural challenges.
VIDEO ON MSN MONEY
DATA PROVIDERS
Copyright © 2013 Microsoft. All rights reserved.
Quotes are real-time for NASDAQ, NYSE and AMEX. See delay times for other exchanges.
Fundamental company data and historical chart data provided by Thomson Reuters (click for restrictions). Real-time quotes provided by BATS Exchange. Real-time index quotes and delayed quotes supplied by Interactive Data Real-Time Services. Fund summary, fund performance and dividend data provided by Morningstar Inc. Analyst recommendations provided by Zacks Investment Research. StockScouter data provided by Verus Analytics. IPO data provided by Hoover's Inc. Index membership data provided by SIX Financial Information.
Japanese stock price data provided by Nomura Research Institute Ltd.; quotes delayed 20 minutes. Canadian fund data provided by CANNEX Financial Exchanges Ltd.
TOP STOCKS
Try as the bears might, they couldn't break US stocks. But investors still face frothy prices and considerable headwinds.
MARKET DISPATCHES
The Market Dispatches column has been discontinued. Here's where to find the latest stock and business news on MSN Money, and the latest from market writer Charley Blaine.
FRUGAL COOL
Starting Monday, this site is joining forces with MSN Money Smart Spending. Here's why.
MONEY & POLITICS
Breaking up big banks is an untested solution to the too big to fail problem that attempts to isolate and dismantle large, troubled institutions while protecting the rest of the economy.
SMART SPENDING
A new federal safety report shows toddlers and minority children make up a disproportionate number of drowning victims.
SMART TAXES
The IRS is struggling to combat identify thieves who file fraudulent tax returns in the names of older residents who don't need to file.

