Sunday, December 28, 2008

Despite concerns about the economy in general and holiday sales in particular, stocks of toymakers rose during the last month. Three of the five public companies gained: Mattel, maker of Barbie, Fisher-Price and High School Musical toys, up 27 percent; JAKKS Pacific, with lines including World Wrestling Entertainment video games, up 20 percent; and Hasbro, maker of Playskool and Tonka toys, up 18 percent. Stocks of the other two firms fell: RC2, down 6 percent, and Action Products International, down 34 percent.