Lowe’s goes higher, along with builders

Lowe’s Cos., the Mooresville, N.C.-based home improvement retailer, gained along with homebuilders thanks to yesterday’s news that housing starts increased in May more than had been forecast. Lowe’s gained 2.6 percent; its main rival, Home Depot Inc., of Atlanta, rose by 1.8 percent. Lowe’s had fiscal 2010 sales of $48.8 billion, according to a press release from the company.