12 items found for your search. If no results were found please broaden your search.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Investors will be analyzing this week's economic data in an attempt to predict the actions of the Federal Reserve. Today, consumer confidence for March will be released. \nEconomists are calling for confidence to slip to 104.2 from a reading of 106.8 in February. Wall Street will also look at the personal income and spending report for February. The report, scheduled for release Thursday, gives investors a sign of how much consumers are spending. If the report shows a positive number, it is a sign that consumption is increasing. \nWall Street will use the economic data to debate whether the Federal Reserve may lower interest rates in the near future. Last Tuesday, the central bank announced that it would lower interest rates by 50 basis points to 5 percent. Many investors, who hoped the Fed would lower rates by 75 basis points, are now hoping that Fed will lower rates before its May 15 meeting. \nLast Week\nFriday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 115.30 to close at 9,504.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index also ended the trading session in positive territory, closing up 31.04 to finish the week at 1928.74. The Nasdaq was able to post a 2 percent gain for the week, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 3 percent. \nStock News\nDrug maker Immunex announced Friday that it would halt late-stage studies on Enbrel for treatment of chronic heart failure. The company also announced that its experimental asthma drug Nuvance did not benefit patients in two studies. News from the company attracted a series of analyst downgrades, while the stock closed down nearly 40 percent. \nOnline and discount broker Charles Schwab said it would reduce its workforce by 11 to 13 percent Thursday. The company announced it now forecasts earnings of 6 to 7 cents a share, after charges, for the first quarter. Analysts had expected the company to earn 11 cents per share for the quarter, according to First Call/Thomson Financial. \nAlso announcing major workforce reductions last week were Motorola and Procter & Gamble. Motorola announced it would cut 4,000 positions. The latest job cut brings the total number of announced layoffs at Motorola to 42,000 since December. Procter & Gamble announced it would be cutting 9,600 jobs worldwide. About 40 percent of the reductions are expected to come from the United States. \nFinal Note\nInvestors might be looking at various international affairs this week, such as the situation in Europe. The European Union is having a difficult time with mad cow and foot and mouth disease. The financial cost of the outbreak could become a big factor for various American companies if the diseases were to be found in America.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
This week, investors will look at the National Association of Purchasing Management Index and the Labor Department's unemployment number for March. The NAPM number is scheduled for release Monday and is considered one of the best indicators of the condition in the factory sector. A reading above 50 is considered a sign of expansion, while a number below 50 signals economic contraction. The unemployment figure is scheduled for release Friday. Economists are calling for the unemployment rate to rise slightly to 4.3 percent. If the numbers provide signs that the economy is weaker than expected, many will be calling for lower interest rates.\nWall Street might also begin to look to next week, when companies typically announce that their earnings will not meet expectations. According to First Call/Thomson Financial, about 70 percent of the companies that issued earnings forecasts have said their results would be worse than analysts were expecting.\nLast Week\nFriday marked the close of the first three months of trading for the markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 79.72 to end the first quarter at 9,878.78. The Nasdaq Composite Index also managed a small gain, closing up 19.68 to finish the first quarter at 1840.26. For the quarter, The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 8 percent while the Nasdaq suffered its worst quarter, loosing 25.5 percent.\n"This was a painful quarter. There were too many earnings warnings, which have lowered investor confidence and resulted in large sums of money leaving the market," Alan Ackerman, executive vice president of Fahnestock & Co told MSNBC.com. "The market might have a chance to become more stable in the next quarter as long as the Fed cuts interest rates and we have better news on the tax cut front."\nStock News\nLast Thursday, Tyson Foods said it was terminating its $3.2 billion agreement to acquire meat packing firm IBP. The company is alleging accounting irregularities at a unit of IBP. Friday, IBP filed a lawsuit against Tyson to force it to follow through on its acquisition. \n"Tyson's actions are completely unjustified by anything that has transpired and we will do what is necessary to protect our shareholders and our company," said IBP's chief executive officer, Robert Peterson, in a prepared statement. "We can only speculate that this is a classic case of buyer's remorse."\nLast Tuesday, handheld-device maker Palm reported earnings of 2 cents a share, a penny more than analysts were expecting. Palm also announced plans to cut 250 employees and said further reductions were possible. The company warned that it expects to report a fourth-quarter loss of about 8 cents a share. Analysts had been expecting the company to report a loss of 3 cents, according to First Call/Thomson Financial.\nFinal Note\nOne stock to watch this week is American Express. Last week, Business Week cited a rumor that Citicorp may be looking to purchase the company. Shares of American Express rose more than 7 percent Friday because of the possible takeover.
(07/25/02 8:23pm)
Many companies will report their first-quarter earnings this week. Investors will be looking at those earnings and companies' guidance toward future quarters. Investors should get a good indication of where companies stand by the end of the week. Nearly 30 percent of the companies that comprise the S&P 500 are expected to report their earnings. \nLast week, the Nasdaq gained 14 percent. Now, many investors will be watching technology companies to attempt to determine where the sector stands. Large technology companies releasing earnings this week include AOL Time Warner, Microsoft, Intel, Sun Microsystems, Texas Instruments, Advanced Micro Devices, Apple Computer and Gateway.\nToday's expected earnings\nToday earnings are expected from BankAmerica, Citigroup, Kimberly-Clark, Pfizer and Charles Schwab. \nLast week\nThe markets did not open Friday because of the Easter weekend. Thursday, the Nasdaq Composite Index closed at 1,961.42, up 62.47 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also closed in positive territory, closing up 113.47 at 10,126.94. The Nasdaq closed in the black for four consecutive days and gained 14 percent for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained more than 3 percent for the week.\nStock news\nStruggling online grocer Webvan Group Inc. announced Friday that George T. Shaheen resigned from his position as chief executive officer. Shaheen had run the company since his departure as CEO from Anderson Consulting. Less than two weeks ago, Webvan released an annual report that included a warning from its auditor expressing "substantial doubt" about the company's ability to continue operations through the end of the year. \nNetworking equipment maker Juniper Networks reported first quarter earnings that were on the high side of analyst expectations. Forecasts ranged from 21 to 25 cents a share, according to Thomson Financial/First Call. Juniper's stock closed up more than 15 percent Thursday. \nGeneral Electric reported earnings excluding an accounting adjustment of 30 cents a share on Thursday. The company matched analysts' expectations according to Thomson Financial/First Call. General Electric posted a 16 percent rise in profits and recorded record revenues. The company was helped by the success of its power-systems unit that posted a profit that more than doubled from last year. \n"The record results for the first quarter once again demonstrate the ability of GE's diverse mix of leading global businesses to deliver earnings growth, increased margins and strong cash generation despite a challenging economic climate," GE Chairman and Chief Executive John F. Welch said in a prepared statement.\nFinal note\nRepresentatives from China and the United States are expected to meet Wednesday. Investors and companies who are interested in trade relations between the two countries will watch the meeting closely.
(04/09/01 3:57am)
This week marks the beginning of a period typically referred to as "earnings season." During this time, companies report quarterly earnings to Wall Street. It is also usually marked with warnings from companies who announce they will make less money than expected. Investors will be interested in not only corporate earnings, but also in the company's earnings guidance for future quarters.\nAfter last week's employment report came in weaker than expected, Wall Street will keep a close eye on economic reports to examine the possibility of the Federal Reserve Board easing rates before its May 15 meeting. Investors will also be monitoring the producer price index and retail sales data that will be released this week. Retail sales data, which will be released Thursday, provides an indication of consumer spending at retail establishments. A continued drop in retail sales could signal that consumer confidence is dropping. \nExpected earnings\nThis week, earning reports are expected from Boston Scientific, DoubleClick, E*Trade Group, Genentech, General Electric, Harley Davidson, Motorola, Redback Networks and Yahoo!.\nLast week\nFriday, the Nasdaq Composite Index closed at 1,720.36 -- down 64.64 points. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was also in the red, closing at 9,791.09 -- down 126.96 points. For the week, the Nasdaq dropped 6.5 percent while the Dow dropped about a percent.\nStock news\nFriday, California's largest utility company, Pacific Gas and Electric, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Saturday, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that Chairman Robert Glynn issued an internal memo late Thursday announcing bonuses and raises for eligible employees of PG&E. In response to the report, Gov. Gray Davis issued a brief statement saying, "PG&E's management is suffering from two afflictions: denial and greed."\nConsumer electronics retailer RadioShack announced Friday that its first quarter earnings will not meet predictions. The company blamed the shortfall on poor margins on mobile phones, satellite televisions and computers. RadioShack also lowered its earnings guidance for the full year. \nIn early trading Friday, Motorola's stock fell to its lowest level in eight years. Motorola, the second-largest mobile phone producer in the world, denied a published report that it was facing serious liquidity problems. \n "Motorola today is financially sound. Any suggestion or erroneous report that Motorola faces a serious liquidity problem is simply not correct and is not supported by fact," Motorola president Bob Growney said in a press release.\nFinal note\nAccording to First Call/Thomson Financial, approximately 70 percent of companies offering earnings guidance for the current quarter have announced they will fall short of expectations.
(03/22/01 4:18am)
The back cover of "Early to Ri$e" claims it is a book everyone younger than 25 should read. I disagree. The caption should have read "a book that some high school and a few college students should read."\nSo why is this book being reviewed? Because its author, Michael Stahl, is a teenager from Leawood, Kansas. At age 17, Michael has written a book, established investment clubs and met with Warren Buffett (a well-known investor). And Stahl tells readers his portfolio of stocks has returned 500 percent per year, for the past two years.\nStahl is quick to point out that he does not invest in dot-com stocks and will not invest in companies that sell tobacco. One of his main points is to invest in companies you know and understand, conducting thorough research before making an investment. \n"Early to Ri$e" is a 252-page book written to serve as a valuable resource for new and young investors. The book covers topics such as mutual funds, stocks, research tools, investment clubs and various types of brokerages. The book points out that it is necessary to save money and make wise credit and spending decisions at a young age. It also discusses the benefits of compounding interest and says that investing early in life can lead to increased gains in the future. It provides data and various definitions associated with investing. \nOne aspect of the book that adds to its value is that it contains a lengthy appendix and index. This means the book can be read straight through or consulted for a quick question. For beginning investors, the book can serve as a quick reference guide.\nThe main problem with "Early to Ri$e" is that most of the information it covers can be found on the Internet -- for free. In fact, throughout the book readers are directed to check out some of Stahl's favorite sites. And the book often repeats itself and appears to deliver the same information in different chapters.\nFor beginning investors, who have some idea about the markets, it might be a better idea to watch CNBC and read the business section of the paper than to purchase "Early to Ri$e." I recommend saving the money and doing some research on the Internet. \nFor investors who have no idea about stocks and investment related topics, "Early to Ri$e" might provide a great starting point for making financial decisions. The book is easy to read and can be a handy reference resource.
(03/09/01 4:36am)
INDIANAPOLIS -- Information technology in today's global business area was the focus of the Kelley School of Business' 55th annual conference Wednesday. The theme of this year's conference was "e' Is the Business: Revolutionizing the Value Chain." \nThe conference featured speakers Sidney Taurel, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Eli Lilly and Co.; Edward Sanderson Jr., executive vice president of Oracle Corporation; and Lawrence Summers, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury.\nTaurel opened the conference by detailing how Eli Lilly is applying various new technologies to its operations. He discussed how old economy companies are now applying new economy technology. The company is working to position itself for the future, Taurel said, with its new initiative e.lilly., a program designed to act as a business incubator giving potential partners the opportunity to explore new ventures with the company.\nSanderson, who was recently named on of the top 25 consultants by Consulting Magazine, followed Taurel and detailed seven key areas that are affecting e-business. Sanderson talked about trends in e-business and detailed where he thought the sector was headed. \n"Brick and mortar companies will make .com operations as efficient as possible; these channels will be leveraged and total value will be added," Sanderson said. \nThe business school presented alumni awards to Elizabeth S. Action, Bruce Hinton, Roger G. Ibbotson and trustee James T. Morris during a luncheon. Kelley School of Business Dean Dan Dalton ended the awards presentation by honoring Michael L. Hatfield with the Distinguished Entrepreneur Award for his achievements in developing various businesses.\nSummers closed the conference by detailing how changes in technology have affected the world. He said knowledge is the key to the new economy. \n"The new economy is based on knowledge rather than mass, what one can do with their head rather than hands will be increasingly rewarded," Summers said. \nDuring his speech, Summers said knowledge regarding the application of technology would become even more important as more and more people gain access to new technology. He said as a greater number of people access technology such as the Internet, its importance will only increase in society.
(03/05/01 4:35am)
This week, the markets will monitor the amount of companies that release earnings warnings. According to First Call/Thomson Financial, more than two-thirds of companies that have put out first-quarter forecasts have warned of lower than expected earnings.\nInvestors will also look at the revised productivity report for the fourth quarter, scheduled for release Tuesday. Economists predict productivity grew at 2 percent in the fourth quarter, down from 2.4 percent in the previous quarter. \nThe February employment is scheduled to be released Friday morning. Although a number of companies have been slashing their workforces, unemployment is expected to remain at 4.2 percent.\nLast Week\nFriday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 16.17 to close at 10,466.31. \nThe Nasdaq Composite Index ended the trading session down 65.67 to finish the week at 2,117.18. The Nasdaq lost more than 8 percent for the week and is down to its lowest level since mid December 1998.\nStock News\nDow component SBC Communications issued a first-quarter profit warning Friday. The company said it would fall short of expectations because of high costs associated with upgrading its Ameritech unit and offering Internet and long-distance services. SBC now expects earnings of 50 cents to 53 cents a share. Wall Street was looking for the company to earn 59 cents a share, according to First Call/Thomson Financial.\nThursday, technology giant Oracle announced it would not meet earnings forecasts. The software company said it would earn 10 cents per share for its fiscal third quarter. Oracle, expected to report its earnings March 15, was forecast to earn 12 cents per share, according to First Call/Thomson Financial.\nThe Gap reported earnings of 31 cents a share Thursday, beating predictions by a penny. The company said first-quarter sales continue to look dismal. The Gap now expects earnings of 10 cents to 15 cents a share for the quarter. Analysts had expected the retailer to post earnings of 20 cents a share, according to First Call/Thomson Financial.\nFinal Note\nThe Nasdaq Composite Index has been under pressure for months and has wiped out all gains from 1999. Just one year ago, the index was near a record high above 5000. The S&P 500 index has now fallen 20 percent from its highs -- a percentage drop considered by many analysts on Wall Street to be the sign of a bear market. \n"The technology sector is dragging everything else down," Jeff deGraas, chief technical analyst at Lehman Brothers told MSNBC. "You have had an investment bubble and a misallocation of capital. As the bubble deflates people are pulling back on their risky investments and it's going to take a while to work through the system"
(02/12/01 3:51am)
This week, a number of economic reports will be released, including the producer price index report and the retail sales report. Investors will examine the data released and attempt to determine how quickly the economy is slowing. If economic reports in the next few weeks are weaker than expected, fear of a recession might rise. \nFederal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan will deliver his semi-annual state of the economy speech to Congress Tuesday. Economists expect Greenspan to announce that the economy looks weak and that growth is slowing. The Federal Reserve does not meet again until March 20, but many on Wall Street are already calling for another interest rate cut.\nReporting Earnings\nThis week, Applied Materials, Ciena, Dell Computer, Hewlett-Packard, NBC Internet, Nextel Communications and Novell are expected to release earnings. \nLast Week\nThe Nasdaq Composite Index closed down 91.10 points at 2470.96 Friday. The Nasdaq was down more than 7 percent for the week and has now erased all of its gains for the year. At one point in January, the Nasdaq was up 16 percent.\n The Dow Jones Industrial Average was also down Friday, losing 99.10 points to close at 10781.45. The Dow Jones Industrial Average is now five points below where it began the year. \nStock News\nKPMG Consulting, Inc. announced Thursday the initial public offering of 112.5 million shares of its common stock at a per share price of $18. KPMG Consulting was separated from the accounting firm KPMG LLP. Earlier in the week, KPMG Consulting announced that its revenue rose 3 percent to $703 million.\nCisco Systems reported earnings of 18 cents a share Tuesday. According to Thompson/First Call, analysts had been expecting the company to earn 19 cents a share. In a conference call with investors, CEO John Chambers said, "This quarter was even more challenging than we originally anticipated in light of the abrupt economic slowdown in the U.S. and the dramatic slowing of capital spending in the search provider marketplace." Shares of Cisco are down 21 percent since their earnings announcement.\nMotorola Inc. joined the list of companies reducing part of their workforce, announcing Friday that they would cut as many as 4,000 jobs. This is the third time Motorola has eliminated jobs in the past 10 weeks. Motorola said the reductions are aimed at boosting efficiency and increasing profitability.\nFinal Note\nCisco's earnings shortfall may have set the market tone for the next few weeks of trading. Investors must now wonder how this economic downturn will affect companies' bottom lines.
(02/05/01 4:33am)
This week, talk on Wall Street might again revolve around interest rates. Some investors feel the Fed is not done cutting rates and are hoping for another rate cut at or before its March 20 meeting.\n"The weak economy is causing more layoffs ... and manufacturing continues to be in a recession," Fahnestock's Alan Ackerman told The Wall Street Journal. "All eyes are on the service sector, attempting to measure its strength or weaknesses. The fact for now is the Fed is friendlier, and it may as a result of recent economic data be forced to move before its next meeting."\nReporting Earnings\nAnheuser-Busch, Allstate, Cendant Corporation, Cisco Systems, CNet, Computer Sciences, Disney, Humana, Network Appliances, News Corp., Oxford Health, PepsiCo and MCI Worldcom are all expected to report earnings this week.\nLast Week\nTuesday, the Federal Reserve lowered the federal-funds rate to 5.5 percent. The move followed its surprise half-point cut Jan. 3. The Fed is hoping to stimulate the economy by lowering interest rates.\nFriday, the Nasdaq Composite Index lost 122.29 points, closing at 2660.5. The Dow Jones Industrial Average also lost ground, dropping 119.53 points to close at 10864.1. The Nasdaq composite finished the week down 4.3 percent, but remains up 7.7 percent for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 1.9 percent for the week and is up .7 percent for the year.\nAnnouncing Layoffs\nAmazon.com, Intel, DaimlerChrysler, General Electric and JDS Uniphase announced they would be reducing their workforces. According to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, corporations laid off 133,713 employees in December. This is the fourth time labor reductions broke 100,000 since the firm began its survey in 1993.\nStock News\nWednesday, Coca-Cola reported fourth quarter earnings per share of .38 cents, matching analysts' expectations, according to First Call/Thomson Financial. The company announced worldwide unit case growth was 4 percent for the full year. Coca-Cola said it remains comfortable with the current range of analyst expectations for earnings per share in the year 2001.\nAmazon.com reported a fourth quarter loss of 25 cents a share, beating estimates by a penny Jan. 30. A First Call/Thomson Financial survey had produced a mean loss estimate of 26 cents a share for the quarter. The company, which has yet to earn a profit, announced it expects to reach operating profitability by the end of the year.\nFinal Note\nTechnology giant Cisco Systems will report earnings Tuesday. Wall Street is looking for earnings of 19 cents a share from the company. Cisco's report might have a major impact this week.
(01/29/01 4:25am)
Tuesday and Wednesday, the Federal Reserve will meet and announce whether it will cut interest rates, a week after Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan testified before the Senate. Greenspan declined to comment on what Fed policymakers will do when they meet this week. Many investors are looking for the Fed's Open Market Committee to cut short-term interest rates by a half-point.\nIn addition to the Fed meeting, a number of market indicators will be released this week, including the first estimate of fourth-quarter gross domestic product, the monthly report on consumer confidence and the monthly employment report. Investors will be examining these reports to determine the state of the economy.\nReporting Earnings \nAT&T, Phillip Morris, Procter & Gamble, Pepsi, Amazon.com, Clorox, Nokia, Verizon, Sprint and Xerox will report earnings this week.\nLast Week\nFriday, the Nasdaq Composite Index rose 27.02 points to 2781.30. The Nasdaq finished the week up almost 11 points. The Nasdaq is up nearly 13 percent for the year. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 69.54 points, closing at 10659.98. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 72 points for the week and is down a little more than 1 percent for the year.\nStock News\nJob cuts were announced this week at Lucent Technologies Inc., AOL Time Warner Inc., J.C. Penney Co. Inc. and MCI Worldcom. Although a number of companies are cutting jobs, economists and employment experts said the odds of finding a new job are high. The U.S. unemployment rate is near a 30-year low at 4 percent. \nEricsson is no longer in the business of making mobile phones. In a statement, Erricsson said it would fully outsource production to the world's third largest electronics manufacturer, Singapore-based Flextronics International Ltd. Friday, the company reported a 64 percent decline in fourth-quarter profit and announced it expects to only break even in the first quarter. \nThursday, PMC-Sierra, posted fourth-quarter earnings in line with analysts' expectations of 34 cents a share, according to First Call/Thomson Financial. The developer of communications chips also announced a weak outlook for the first quarter and announced that revenue was expected to decline. Friday, PMC-Sierra sank 23 percent. The company is now down more than 70 percent from a 52-week high of $255.50 set last March.\nFinal Note\nThe Fed's decision regarding interest rates will be announced Wednesday. If the Fed does lower interest rates, it will be for the second time this month. The Fed surprised Wall Street Jan. 3, with a half-point rate cut. Many on Wall Street are predicting that the Fed will again lower rates.
(01/23/01 4:10am)
Several companies will report their fourth quarter earnings this week. Investors will look to these reports as early indicators of how far the economy has slowed. \nAt this point, nearly a quarter of the companies in The Standard & Poor's 500 have released their earnings. Some analysts on Wall Street were expecting dismal results, but it appears profits might not be as low as predicted. \nChuck Hill, director of research for First Call/Thomson Financial, said profits are down about 5.2 percent from a year ago.\n"Earnings don't seem as bad as the fear that was created over this quarter," said Barry Hyman, chief investment officer for Weatherly Securities, told CNBC.com. "We are quickly getting through the earnings season. We are seeing great money flow coming into tech again on the belief that things aren't so bad and interest rates will aid growth in the future."\nExpected to Report Earnings this Week\nAmerican Express, Chevron, Coca-cola, Compaq, Dupont, Gillette, Honeywell, International Paper, JDS Uniphase, Johnson & Johnson, Sunoco, Texas Instruments, Qualcomm.\nLast Week\nThe Dow Jones Industrial Average finished last week up 62 points. The index is down 2 percent for the year. The Nasdaq Composite Index also finished the week higher, gaining 5.5 percent. The Nasdaq has performed well this year, and is now up more than 12 percent.\nStock News\nMicrosoft posted earnings of 47 matching analysts' estimates, according to First Call/Thompson Financial. Microsoft reported that net income rose 7 percent and revenue rose 8 percent. The software maker also announced that it is comfortable with its previous earnings guidance. \nHome improvements retailer Home Depot warned Friday that its fourth quarter earnings would be short of analysts' estimates. Wall Street had expected the company to earn 24 cents per share, according to First Call/Thompson Financial. The company blamed the shortfall on a slowing economy and falling building material prices.\n"The tough economy has put tremendous pressure on fourth quarter sales performance and increased competition for share of the consumers' wallets," said Bob Nardelli, Home Depot president and chief executive officer.\nIBM reported net income of $1.48 per share, beating expectations of $1.46 per share, according to First Call/Thompson Financial. The company also said it is comfortable with 2001 earnings per share estimates of $4.99.\nFinal Note\nThursday, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Alan Greenspan will speak to Congress. Many investors will carefully monitor his testimony to determine if and by how much the Fed will cut interest rates. And the energy crisis in California will give Wall Street something to consider.
(11/13/00 4:00am)
The markets this week will again be affected by the presidential election and the guidance companies provide investors toward their future growth. \n"The market remains gripped by the political uncertainty, but the real worries for the market are earnings going forward," Peter Cardillo, chief strategist and director of research at Westfalia Investments, told The Wall Street Journal. "Investors do not like uncertainty and the outcome of this election is still up in the air."\nThe Federal Reserve will meet Wednesday to discuss interest rates. Most analysts agree the Fed will not change rates. \n"Interest rates are still at lofty levels and there is no sign of coming down," Bill Hummer, portfolio manager for Wayne Hummer Investments, told CNBC. "Sometimes when this happens, you'll see interest rates start to decline. That is not occurring this time around. I don't think the Fed is going to do anything to ease (the interest rates)."\nIf the Fed does hint that it might ease its stance toward inflation, it could help the markets.\nLast Week\nBoth markets closed notably lower Friday. The NASDAQ finished down 170.99 points to 3029.36, ending the day at its lowest close of the year. The NASDAQ experienced five consecutive days of losses and is down 12 percent for the week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average did not fare much better than the NASDAQ, closing down 231.30 points to 10602.95. The Dow lost 2 percent this week.\nStock News\nHome Depot is expected to release its earnings Tuesday. The company warned investors Oct. 12 that its earnings would not meet expectations. Analysts now expect Home Depot to earn 28 cents a share, according to First Call.\nBest Buy said it expects third- and fourth-quarter earnings to come in at 27 cents and 90 cents a share, respectively. Wall Street had been expecting the company to earn 44 cents for the third quarter and $1.01 in the fourth quarter. In a press statement released Thursday, Best Buy announced that increased promotional activity will lead to reduced gross margins and profitability.\nDell released earnings of 25 cents per share, matching the expectations of analysts. Dell executives announced during a teleconference that they expect revenue growth of 20 percent next year, down from the company's earlier estimate of 30 percent. Investors were displeased with the weaker sales guidance as Dell shares fell nearly 20 percent Friday.\nFinal Note\nThe NASDAQ is down more than 25 percent for the year. Once the outcome of the election is settled, the market might turn positive, but what the market is really watching is the state of the economy. The investors will pay attention to the Federal Reserve's every move Wednesday.