Stocks wavered to a mildly higher close Wednesday amid much better-than-expected data on February retail sales. Overall sales jumped 1.1%, more than doubling expectations. The Nasdaq and the S&P 500 rose 0.1% each. The Dow Jones industrial average scored its ninth straight gain, rising a fraction to a new closing high. Volume fell across the board in the stock market today. Michael Kors (KORS) rallied 4% in brisk volume after being upgraded to