Dow Caps Longest Rally Since 1996 as Retail Sales Gain

U.S. stocks rose, sending the Dow Jones Industrial Average to its longest rally since 1996, as data showing retail sales increased in February by the most in five months bolstered optimism in the world’s largest economy.

Best Buy Co. and Abercrombie & Fitch Co. climbed at least 2.7 percent as retailers advanced. Netflix Inc. jumped 5.6 percent after announcing new social features integrated with Facebook Inc. International Business Machines Corp. gained 0.7 percent to a record. BlackBerry surged 8.2 percent after announcing its largest purchase order ever.