The major market index composites finished with gains during the last week of
trading in the United States. The Dow Jones Industrial Average ended the week up
by 3.1 percent. Events overseas continue to unfold and investors will keep one
eye on related news as it develops. The other eye will focus on home based
economic reports as they post this week in the U.S. Today, a personal income
report for February will post via the Commerce Department. Personal income data
is expected to reveal a moderate gain for February over the weaker numbers that
posted in January. The National Association of Realtors will also post its
pending home sales report this day. Many hope that this report will show a
moderate increase in pending home sales for January. The reality though is that
this sector has been struggling for a while and trends are likely to hold. The
lower numbers relevant to the existing and new home sales for February were
historically low and it would not be much of a surprise to see lower numbers for
pending home sales either. The Conference Board will post a report on March
Consumer confidence data on Tuesday. This report is expected to show a
significant drop when compared to the prior reading. Overseas turmoil, rising
oil prices, violence in the Middle East will all apply negative pressure to this
reading. In addition to the consumer confidence report this day, the S&P
Case-Shiller home price index for January will post. Economists expect to see a
rise in private sector jobs and will look to the ADP private sector jobs report
that is scheduled to post on Wednesday in hopes viewing improved numbers. As
usual, Thursday will bring the governments data on weekly jobless claims. The
claims dropped last week but are expected to rise higher this week. In addition
to this report on Thursday, the Chicagos Purchasing Managers Index for March is
scheduled to post this day via the Institute for Supply Management-Chicago. The
Labor Department will post the jobs report on Friday. This report is viewed by
many to be the most important of the week and thus all eye and ears will be
focused on relevant data and posts. In addition this day, the Supply Managements
March manufacturing index report is scheduled to post. Currently, market
tracking reveals that prior to opening bell for the first trading session of the
week, stock futures are posting green and stocks are positioned for gains. Stock
future tracking in the U.S. reveals that the Dow Jones Industrial Average is
posting green by .06 percent at this time. Author: Frank Matto
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