Consumer stocks were mixed late Friday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) increasing 0.1% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) decreasing 0.1%.
In sector news, retail sales slid 0.6% amid declines in spending on motor vehicles and at gas stations, following a 0.2% increase in June, the Census Bureau reported Friday. The consensus was 0.1% growth, according to a survey compiled by Bloomberg.
The University of Michigan's preliminary consumer sentiment index fell to 51.0 in August from 55.2 in July, below expectations for a much smaller decrease to 55.0 in a Bloomberg-compiled survey.
In corporate news, Fox class A and B shares (FOXA, FOX) were each rising past 5% following a rating upgrade from Wells Fargo.
American Airlines (AAL) planes with the same call sign were landing and taking off simultaneously at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport around midnight local time on Friday, Bloomberg reported, citing air traffic audio records. The aircraft were converging along the same path and on the same radio frequency, prompting the controller to carefully direct the jets to avoid any potential issue, the report said. American Airlines shares were down 1.5%.
Tesla (TSLA) is planning to reveal its new Roadster as soon as this month at an event that will feature a "flying" stunt, The Information reported. A limited edition of the Roadster that uses SpaceX (SPCX) cold gas thrusters will demonstrate its flying capabilities at the event, which is expected to take place at SpaceX's testing site in McGregor, Texas, the report said. Tesla shares were up 0.4%.
Birkenstock (BIRK) shares fell nearly 3% after it said Friday that an entity affiliated with L Catterton launched a $1 billion underwritten secondary offering of the company's ordinary shares.