Small business owners are getting a little more optimistic about how their companies will do after the election, according to a survey released Tuesday by the National Federation of Independent Business.
Yes, the unemployment rate sank below 9% in February, but the investors didn't seem to be impressed by that report. They're expected to focus this week on government data regarding consumer credit, some retail earnings and wholesale trade and jobless figures.
A rising stock market next year is becoming an article of faith. But beneath the bullish sheen of several positive reports, many other key indicators are bearish or neutral. Investors might want to balance the widespread confidence by looking at these eight.
A quiet week for earnings, along with new reports on consumer credit, consumer sentiment, economic optimism, wholesale trade, the U.S. trade balance and federal budget balance, should give the stock markets a chance to settle down after last week's volatility.
The recent stream of modestly positive economic news means the Fed probably won't take any further action to stimulate the economy at its upcoming meeting. But nobody is calling the economy healthy yet.