Apple Inc (AAPL)

[roni]

The economy: recovery/not recovery

http://cbs.marketwatch.com/news/story.asp?guid=%7B024221A4%2DD7C4%2D4771%2D82C2%2D83A2665B974F%7D&am...

But for all the rises in some stocks, there was still evidence aplenty of how soft the economy has been and how fragile is its recovery. And unless and until that recovery becomes more robust, we probably will not have a true bull market.

and later in the article:

As for the U.S., the basic indicators -- consumer confidence, housing sales, retail sales, etc., etc. -- seem to be on the rise. But already military authorities are talking about expanding the U.S. commitment of people and money to Iraq. Small wonder that the federal budget has gone from a $127 billion surplus in 2001 in the last Clinton budget to a projected $455 billion deficit this year. [My comment: This 455 billion figure does not include the cost of military operations in the Middle East, so the true figure will be over half a trillion dollars]

And here are some releases to look for in the week just ahead:

On Monday, the Conference Board will report on its leading economic indicators. On Tuesday, the retail sales index will come out. On Thursday, watch for housing starts and first-time jobless benefits claims. Finally, on Friday there will be new home sales and durable goods orders.