Gap's March Sales Make U.S. Retailer S&P 500 Laggard: Chart

Thanks a lot, Banana Republic. The Gap Inc. unit helped push the U.S. retailer’s total same-store sales down 6 percent in March, a whole point bigger than the 5 percent drop projected by analysts. Shares fell Friday, plunging as much as 13 percent and topping the list of S&P 500 Index laggards. Adding to injury, the San Francisco-based seller of 1969 jeans reversed its recent trend of trading above its current-year average.