Media Advisory/Q&A Opportunity - The 2009 BMO Capital Markets Retail
Roundtable: "Holiday Spending Outlook"

BMO Consumer Research Analysts Available By Conference Call to Discuss Holiday Sales and Provide a Retail Outlook as Retailers/Consumers Approach Black Friday

NEW YORK, Nov. 17 /CNW/ - BMO Capital Markets Consumer Research Analysts will host a round table discussion (open to media only), this Wednesday, November 18 , at 11:00 a.m. EDT . The conference call will focus on holiday sales and key companies, providing an outlook on the holiday spending season as retailers/consumers approach Black Friday, November 27 .

    
    Media Briefing Details

    WHAT:  BMO Capital Markets Retail Roundtable providing a panel discussion
           of the "Holiday Spending Outlook" with Media Q&A opportunity

    WHO:   BMO Capital Markets Consumer Research Analysts:

           Wayne Hood, Senior Research Analyst, Broadline Retail, BMO Capital
           Markets (covering: KSS, M, TGT, WMT, and more). Wayne Hood
           comments, "Retail sales continue to show sequential improvement
           against last year's easy sales comparisons; this should continue
           into the all-important Holiday Season. ... We look for on-line
           sales to significantly outpace overall sales, as well as,
           "aggressive door-buster and two-for-one promotions" around key
           items over Black Friday. In apparel and dry grocery, sales of
           private/exclusive label merchandise are likely to continue to see
           stronger results than branded merchandise as consumers continue to
           gravitate to value."

           Gerrick Johnson, Senior Research Analyst, Toys, BMO Capital
           Markets (covering: HAS, JAKK, MAT and more). Gerrick Johnson notes
           "Retailers have been managing inventory tightly. Meanwhile,
           consumers have begun their holiday shopping, but appear to be
           sticking to the promotions and advertised items."

           Connie Maneaty, Senior Research Analyst, Personal Care and
           Household Products, BMO Capital Markets (covering: AVP, EL, REV,
           and more). Connie Maneaty comments, "Consumer packaged goods
           companies have managed costs tightly all year, with most of the
           recent earnings upside deriving more from financial discipline
           than from sales growth. Their approach to the holiday season is
           cautious, but we think the purse strings are loosening.
           Advertising (and promotion) may have an impact on holiday
           shopping, but importantly, set the stage for a more sustained, if
           gradual recovery in 2010."

           John D. Morris, Senior Research Analyst, Apparel Retail, BMO
           Capital Markets (covering: ANF, ARO, GPS, JCG, and more). John
           Morris states "Retailers are reaching for the promotional lever a
           little earlier this season and we expect managements to curb their
           enthusiasm for Holiday '09 on upcoming Q3 conference calls. The
           BMO Sale Rack Index continues to run about 5-10% above last year.
           We would expect promotional activity to escalate in the remaining
           two weeks of November, given the month's slow start and
           unseasonably warm weather."

    WHEN:  Wednesday, November 18, 2009
           11:00 a.m. (EDT)

    Contact Kevin Windorf or Holly Holt to register/receive dial-in
    information.
    

About BMO Capital Markets

BMO Capital Markets is a leading full-service North American financial services provider, with over 2,200 employees operating in 14 North American offices and 27 worldwide, offering corporate, institutional and government clients access to a complete range of investment and corporate banking products and services. BMO Capital Markets is a member of BMO Financial Group (NYSE, TSX: BMO), one of the largest diversified financial services providers in North America with US$385 billion total assets and 37,000 employees as at July 31, 2009 .

For further information: Media Contacts: Kim Hanson, [email protected], [phone] (Toronto); Holly Holt, [email protected], [phone]; Kevin Windorf, [email protected], [phone], Internet: www.bmocm.com