i've been speaking with howard schulz, c.e.o. and founder of starbucks. >> tom: lots more economic data today between consumer confidence and home prices, kind of battling for the soul of the stock market. let's get you update in tonight's "market focus." >> tom: stocks saw buying throughout most of the day, shrugging off the bad housing sales data and government debt downgrades in europe. the telecom sector led the market gainers for the second session in a row, and telecom stocks were led by at&t. shares added another 2.4%. volume almost doubled today. this chart shows at&t since the day before its buyout of t- mobile was announced. shares are up about 7%. look at this. longer term, better idea of the trend. here's the past year. with this recent rally, it brings the stock back to its previous high, around $30, and just below a new 52-week high tonight. the new york attorney general came out against at&t's effort to buy t-mobile. two other big wireless players-- verizon also saw more buying-- hitting another 52-week high. sprin