Blue Chips Rise 7 on Rate Uncertainty
NEW YORK, May 13ÛÓBlue-chip stocks rose slightly today and the ; broader market was mixed as investors debated whether the Federal Reserve would cut interest rates to spur theeconomy. \ .	'</br></br>The Dow Jones industrial average rose 6.86 points to close at 3391.98. Winning issues topped losers by a slim margin on New York Stock Exchange volume of 171.6 million shares.</br></br>Analysts said investors showed little enthusiasm despite government reports of a strong rise in retail sales during April and moderate inflation.</br></br>ÛÏThings will drift sideways until there is some conviction of momentum in the recovery,Û said Cummins Cath-erwood, managing director at Rutherford Brown Catherwood.</br></br>Analysts were ambivalent about government reports that showed retail sales rose 0.9 percent in April while consumer prices rose just 0.2 percent.