A shopper pushes a cart full of toilet paper and other items at Costco in Mountain View, Calif. , Monday, April 13, 2009. Companies that make consumer staple products along with some health care firms fared less poorly than other stocks during the worst of the downturn. Some experts are saying it's time to consider whether to focus on less defensive stocks now that hints of progress toward an economic recovery have emerged. AP Photo logo AP Photo 7 months ago

A shopper pushes a cart full of toilet paper and other items at Costco in Mountain View, Calif. , Monday, April 13, 2009. Companies that make consumer staple products along with some health care firms fared less poorly than other stocks during the worst of the downturn. Some experts are saying it's time to consider whether to focus on less defensive stocks now that hints of progress toward an economic recovery have emerged.

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  1. A recruiter is seen working at a Costco booth at a holiday job fair at Skyline College in San Bruno, Calif., Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2009. The number of newly laid-off workers filing claims for unemployment benefits last week fell to the lowest level in 10 months, evidence that job cuts are easing as the economy slowly heals.

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  1. A South Korean soldier stands guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  2. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Raffaele Morra performs the Dying Swan during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  3. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba performs on stage during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  4. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  5. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Claude Gamba prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  6. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: Raffaele Morra performs the Dying Swan during the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  7. SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 10: A performer prepares his costume before the press call for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo at the Theatre Royal on November 10, 2009 in Sydney, Australia. The All Male Ballet Dancing 'Trocks' begin their Sydney season tonight.
  8. A North Korean soldier, left, stands guard as a South Korean soldier looks at the Truce Village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  9. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk meets Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang (L) during a meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Singapore November 10, 2009.
  10. Actor John Travolta (L) poses with co-star Seth Green (R) and Travolta's daughter Ella Bleu Travolta at the premiere of their new film "Old Dogs" in Hollywood, California November 9, 2009. All three star in the film with Robin Williams.
  11. A North Korean soldier (R) and a South Korean soldier stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarised zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas in Paju, about 55 km (34 miles) north of Seoul, November 10, 2009. The two Koreas had a brief naval skirmish in Yellow Sea waters on Tuesday, but there were no casualties in the incident that came just ahead of a visit to Asia by U.S. President Barack Obama, Yonhap news agency reported.
  12. U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk meets Singapore's Trade Minister Lim Hng Kiang (R) during a meeting on the sidelines of the APEC Summit in Singapore November 10, 2009.
  13. A North Korean soldier looks at the south side using binoculars at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  14. A Chinese boy runs past Tiananmen Square, covered in snow, in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.
  15. A North Korean soldier, left, and South Korean soldier stand guard at the truce village of Panmunjom in the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas since the Korean War, north of Seoul, South Korea, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009. Navy ships of the two Koreas exchanged fire Tuesday along their disputed western sea border, South Korean military officers said.
  16. A street photographer waiting for customers is reflected on a pool of water after the snow melted on the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009.