Expect a relatively quiet week on Wall Street, with only a handful of headline-grabbing economic reports expected. But many of the reports due out this week should shed additional light on the financial health of consumers.
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Monday, April 10:
EARNINGS TO WATCH: Alcoa
Tuesday, April 11:
ECONOMIC OPTIMISM: The latest results of the IBD/TIPP economic optimism index are due out today. The survey, compiled by Investor's Business Daily and the TechnoMetrica Institute of Policy and Politics, has been relatively flat so far this year.
EARNINGS TO WATCH: Genentech
Wednesday, April 12:
TRADE BALANCE: The federal government will report on the status of the nation's trade deficit, which has set record highs in recent months.
EARNINGS TO WATCH: Circuit City Stores, Gannett, Harley-Davidson, and Media General
Thursday, April 13:
RETAIL SALES: The Commerce Department is scheduled to release its March retail sales report, which tracks business trends among retailers and food establishments.
CONSUMER SENTIMENT: The University of Michigan will offer a preliminary assessment of consumer confidence in April.
FED SPEAK: Federal Reserve governor Donald Kohn will offer his assessment of the economic outlook in a speech in Oklahoma City today.
EARNINGS TO WATCH: McClatchy, New York Times, and Tribune
Friday, April 14:
CAPACITY UTILIZATION: The Federal Reserve will report on factory activity in March. It will also report on what percentage of the nation's factory capacity was utilized last month—something that economists will use to gauge inflationary pressures in the economy.
