Stock Watch: i2 Gains on Sears Contract

i2 Technologies Inc. (Nasdaq: ITWO) climbed 10 7/8 to 168 1/2 Wednesday after the B2B software maker said Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) will use its products to boost technician productivity and reduce repair-part inventory for its home services businesses.

Sears Home Central is the largest U.S. home repair and improvement provider, with more than 14,000 technicians serving more than 15 million homes a year, i2 said. Sears technicians repair one out of five malfunctioning appliances in the country.

i2's solutions are designed to reduce the number of trips per repair, according to president Greg Brady.