‘CEOmageddon’ Arrives in D.C… But Will Anything Change? (YahooFinance.com)
Investors in U.S.blue chips eagerly await word from more than 80 corporate big-wigs who’ve descended upon the nation’s capital. The corporate chieftains hope to pressure Congress into taking emergency action to reduce the federal deficit. Suggested measures include: limiting growth in healthcare spending; restructuring Social Security to make it solvent; enacting new tax law to raise revenues; cutting rates; and broadening the tax base. This effort marks the first time America’s business leaders have gathered in such numbers to bring tax issues before Congress.
Sweet Profits or Share-Price Rot? Apple to Post Earnings Today (CNBC)
Tech investors have had a bitter taste in their mouths this earnings season, as company after company missed estimates, including: MSFT, GOOG and IBM. But today, investors hope that the industry’s sweetest treat, Apple (AAPL), will surpass previous estimates. However, even that might not be enough to stop the company’s share price rot — as it has dropped from $705 on September 21, 2012, to yesterday’s after-hours price of $621.
Back to the Futures: Good News Out of China Spurs Speculators (Reuters)
U.S.market index futures were up this morning, based on expected good news regarding the Chinese economy,U.S.unemployment figures and housing start numbers. And if anyone could use good news, it’s speculators in the U.S. futures markets or investors in the S&P 500, which is coming off of its worst five-day period in five months. Now, investors just will have to see if anticipation outweighs the event…
