The Week Ahead: With sinking consumer confidence and threatening price inflation the markets will anxiously await the employment report this Friday. Also, watch the March ISM Manufacturing Index release today and March vehicle sales on Tuesday. February factory orders and an important crude oil and gasoline inventory report are due out on Wednesday. Weekly jobless claims numbers will be announced Thursday. The financial markets are closed Friday for observance of Good Friday.

Stocks to Watch: LSI Logic (LSI) is expected to close the acquisition of Agere Systems on Monday. Checkpoint Systems (CKP) had strong 4th quarter earnings as revenues rose. The stock broke north after a recent sideways consolidation. Shares of Vodafone Group (VOD) slipped on a warning that profits in the UK will be hurt by lower margins. Dendreon (DNDN) blasted off after an FDA advisory panel said evidence showed that Provenge for prostrate cancer was a safe and effective treatment. FDA review and final decision are expected by May 15.

Special Note: A major trade policy shift occurred last week with the US slapping import duties on China for the first time in 23 years starting with paper products. A motivating factor may have been China's decision to diversify its currency reserves while limiting purchases of US Treasury bonds. Combine this with the mounting tension with Iran and a volatile geo-political environment is fast developing. Stock indexes usually have a bullish bias on holiday shortened weeks, but investors should remain diversified with various hedging strategies.


Commentary provided by Barry Ward, Registered Principal, NobleTrading.com, Inc.

To view all of NobleTrading's historical newsletters, click here.

Click here to open an account.
NobleTrading Direct Access Trading