Stocks rise, German yields dip after bond sale

Expectations of further monetary stimulus in China kept Asian markets in positive territory and stocks futures pointed to Wall Street opening higher ahead of retail sales numbers later in the day. The best French growth reading in two years added to signs, including from Spain, that some of Europe's weaker southern economies are picking up. Germany missed forecasts, however. Germany and Italy both successfully sold government debt, and yields on the secondary market fell, but traders were s