Shares of Nike Inc. surged 3% afternoon trade Friday, and were the biggest percentage gainers within the Dow Jones Industrial Average , as they closed in on a 2 1/2-month high. The athletic apparel maker said late Thursday that it entered into a strategic partnership with funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management to optimize Nike’s supply chain. Separately, Foot Locker Inc. reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter results, with the chief executive making upbeat comments about Nike products on the post-results conference call with analysts. He noted that were “an awful lot of great Nike product on the feet of a lot of the sprinters and distance runners,” according to a transcript provided by FactSet. Nike’s stock has lost 5.7% year to date, while the Dow has gained 6.5%.
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