Despite weak retail sales and lackluster earnings, all three major indices closed higher with the Nasdaq Composite outperforming due to strength in biotech and chipmaker stocks. Overseas markets were also on the plus side Wednesday despite disappointing economic data on Chinese retail sales, EU industrial production and a contraction in Japan's GDP of 1.7%. Also, the Atlanta Federal Reserve reported that businesses expect inflation to increase to a 2.0% rate from 1.9% in July.