After seeing positive gains for the major index composites overall last week,
stock futures set up this morning mixed. The expectation is that Investors will
remain bullish in April but this week will tell us a lot more. The positive
momentum carried through last week and investors appeared to turn their heads to
the negative pressure being exerted by world news developments. The Japanese
nuclear crisis is still looming and negative affects continue to make headlines.
Oil prices are pushing higher. Conflicts in the Middle East continue to escalate
and inflationary potentials are on the minds of many. This pressure could begin
to influence our market indices here and this mornings mixed start may be a sign
that investors are feeling this pressure as well. With no major reports
anticipated on the economic calendar today investors will key in on public
addresses given by various members of the Fed throughout the day as well as an
address by Fed Chairman Bernanke this evening at a conference in Atlanta.
Investors are looking for any indicators that interest rates may be increased as
a means to control inflation. Later this week the European Central Bank will
meet to review potential changes to its monetary policy. Approaching mid day the
major market indexes are mixed. The Dow gained 9.73 points or 0.08% to 12386.45.
The Nasdaq lost 0.29 points or 0.01% to 2789.27. The S&P 500 rose 0.14 points or
0.02% to 1332.64. The Treasuries 10 year yield lost 0.03 to 3.42%. Oil rose 0.12
to $108.04 a barrel. The U.S. Dollar declined by 0.02% to the Euro at $1.4236.
Author: Pamela Frost
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