It's not just the big names in discount retailers who will benefit from the change in consumer spending.

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) - Retail stocks opened lower Thursday, led by Limited Brands Inc. and Sears Holdings Corp., against lingering concerns about the pace of economic recovery as jobless claims continued to hover above 500,000 for a 53rd straight week.

An analyst downgrade weighed on a slate of chip companies and more economic worries were on investors' minds.

U.S. stock futures pointed to a downbeat start Thursday, as pessimism surrounding the world economy weighed on markets. See Indications.

Sears Holdings Corp. says its fiscal third-quarter loss narrowed after it controlled expenses and inventory to offset lower sales at its namesake chain.