The Gap Inc. topped percentage gainers in the S&P 500 retail stocks Friday, opening 4% higher after reporting late Thursday a 29% higher second-quarter profit and lifing its full-year earnings outlook. Other big gainers in the group included Ralph Lauren Corp. , up 2.8%. Women's apparel retailer Anne Inc. shares jumped as much as 17% after reporting a 24% jump in same-store sales in the second quarter. Ann, operator of Ann Taylor, also lifted its net sales forecast for the year to $2.39 billion from $2.38 billion. The gains moved stocks in the S&P 500 consumer discretionary sector up 0.3% in a quiet August market, making it the second-best performing group in the index.

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