Consumer Cos. Up on Shopping View -- Consumer Roundup

Shares of retailers and other consumer companies rose as traders bet the holiday shopping season will continue to be strong. Retailers reported some of the strongest gains in November sales growth seen in recent years. The prospect of a lighter tax bill could encourage consumers to splurge further in December. Meanwhile, companies in the consumer staples business, under fire because of changing tastes in food and household products, continue to make strategic adjustments. Leveraged-buyout firm KKR agreed to buy Unilever's margarine and spreads business in a deal that values the unit at $8 billion.

--Rob Curran,

rob.curran@dowjones.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

December 15, 2017 16:45 ET (21:45 GMT)