US Stocks Edge Higher in Early Trading; Oil Price Slips<br />RETAIL RISING: Several retailers moved higher as the holiday shopping season moved into high gear.<br />TIMELY DEAL: Better Homes & Gardens publisher Meredith Corp. said Sunday that it will buy Time for $1.8 billion, or $18.50 a share.<br />To get the deal done, Meredith got $650 million from Koch Equity Development, along with $3.55 billion from several other lenders.
