Long-watched Claire's Stores Inc. surprised to the upside this past week asApollo Investment Corporation's operators appear to be working their magic (yes, a rare PETITION shoutout to the PE bros). The company's bonds reacted favorably and now many think that the company will manage to make it until...wait for it...at least 2018 - not exactly the greatest vote of confidence given that we're in Q3 already and most retailers are gonna want to give the holiday season a spin (unless we're talking about Gymboree). Elsewhere, Nordstrom ($JWN) is talking a go-private transaction.