Williams-Sonoma Shares Rise 17% on Report

Williams-Sonoma Inc. shares rose 17% after a report that the cookware and pottery retailer rejected a takeover offer earlier this month. Starbucks Corp., North America’s largest coffee retailer, was named a likely suitor in the report by the San Francisco Chronicle, which cited sources close to the retailer. San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma declined to comment. A spokeswoman said only that the retailer is not for sale. A Starbucks spokesman also declined to comment. Williams-Sonoma runs more than 300 stores and five mail-order catalogs under the names Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Hold Everything and Chambers. Its shares jumped $5 to close at $34 in heavy NYSE trading.