| Ann Taylor (ANN) shares surged 10% to $14.74. The women's clothing retailer said that its fourth-quarter profit will exceed its previous forecast and be "substantially" higher than the year-earlier level thanks to better-than-expected sales and gross margins. Fourth-quarter sales are expected to be $470 million, compared to its previous outlook for sales to decline slightly from $462.4 million it reported in the third quarter. Comparable-store sales are expected to be down 7% at Ann Taylor and increase by about 2% at the Loft chain, both better than the company's previous projection.
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