High-end retailers report strong profits

The holidays turned out to be a lot brighter at the high end, as four major retailers reported results Tuesday.Wal-Mart, Macy's, Home Depot and Saks Fifth Avenue all reported sales increases for their fourth quarters ending in January. But while Wal-Mart had to lower prices so aggressively that it hurt its profit, retailers focusing on higher-income customers crowed about the solid prices those shoppers paid.For consumers with higher incomes, "I think there's generally more confidence today than there was at this time last year," said Macy's chairman and chief executive Terry J. Lundgren. But, he added where someone is