Wall St in week ahead: Stocks could slip as earnings dip

[54anickel]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_563514,00020002.htm

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On the economics front, most of the key indicators fall on Thursday, when the government will issue weekly claims for jobless benefits, as well as reports on business inventories for December and retail sales for January.

Analysts will be closely eyeing January's retail sales for signs whether consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of US economic activity, could be slowing down.

Economists will scrutinize the inventories report for signs that businesses are restocking their shelves to keep up with demand. US businesses have kept their inventories at historically lean levels in the past year, as they waited for a pickup in the economy.

But Friday will bring some numbers worth noting: On tap are the December international trade deficit, projected to widen to $39.45 billion from $38.01 billion in November, and the University of Michigan's preliminary February reading on consumer sentiment, forecast to dip to 103.3 from January's final reading of 103.8, according to economists polled by Reuters.

[lovedems]

1. Consumer spending accounts for 2/3 of economic activity.

I would like to know how people can spend if they don't have jobs? This administration can't have it both ways. A booming jobless recovery!

[lastknowngood]

2. They cashed out all of their equity in their homes at the behest

of the shrub when he kept rates low. Now that money is starting to run out so they will have to lie totally for the next few months to pretend we have a good economy. It will all collapse after the shrub's re-selection.

[catzies]

3. It's also not a coincidence biggest contributors are financial sector

MBNA is the single largest one.

The financial community (credit cards and other consumer debt vehicles) need to keep the credit and housing bubbles from popping for as long as they can.

But will Ameicans keep doing their part? How can they keep shopping indefinitely? There's the rub.

[54anickel]

4. Working class are just pawns used in the corporate game of

profits. To keep us in the game, we each get a tiny piece of Wall Street thru 401Ks and IRAs and Mutual Funds. Toss us a bone, we cheer on the profits at our own demise.

[kalian]

5. Credit cards.....

and home equity loans. People now have become homeless...they will
never own their houses...