mogavero

The strength of the market surge depends on economic news -- particularly unemployment data. Consumer confidence, personal consumption and GDP are three other big items on this week's calendar.

Stocks rallied sharply Friday to extend their winning ways to a fourth consecutive week. That's the longest rally since late April, when the markets hit their last peaks.

Alcoa reports its second-quarter results after the market closes Monday. But of much greater importance than what it -- and the slew of companies to follow -- earned in the period is what it says about future growth prospects. [With video]

This week's rally was welcome -- the Dow, S&P 500 and Nasdaq all tacked on about 5% in the last four days. But there's not much to read into the action because so many traders are still on vacation from the July 4 holiday. [With video]