Online Shopping On Black Friday Isn't Just a U.S. Event Anymore--IBM

International Business Machines Corp. said Monday that online sales for U.S. retailers on Thanksgiving jumped 12% from a year ago, and while Black Friday sales rose 10%. Globally, retailers saw online sales increase 24% on Thanksgiving and 28% on Black Friday. Online sales for the four-day weekend rose 9% for U.S. retailers and 20% globally. IBM expects global online Cyber Monday sales to grow in the double-digit percentage range, and projects overall online sales for the November-to-December period rising 14%. "It is clear, online shopping during the US holiday period has become a global phenomenon and more than ever companies are turning to IBM as a trusted technology provider and supporter to help them succeed during this critical period," said Harriet Green, general manager at IBM Commerce. IBM's stock has climbed 19% year to date, while the SPDR S&P Retail ETF has gained 7.9% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average has climbed 9.9%.