Retail sales rose in September for the first time in 13 months, fueling hopes that the worst is behind retailers that head into the holiday season better prepared for a tough economic environment.

Corporate earnings will take center stage again this week as certain financials hope to follow last week’s upbeat announcement by banking giant Wells Fargo & Co. (WFC) with some decent earnings reports of their own.

Retailer’s Sales Slump But Not Its Stock; Stay-at-Home Diners Hurts Darden; Oil’s Dollar Jump on Weather and Political Unrest; FDIC’s Bad Bank List Bulges; HP Closes Deal with EDS; Citi Pays Restitution; GT Solar Swings to Profit; Rio Digs Record Results