Wall Street should brace for a round of profit warnings from U.S. technology companies this results season, as consumers and businesses rein in spending amid a weaker economy and record energy prices. The world's largest microchip company, Intel Corp spacer , kicks things off for the sector Tuesday, followed by top computer services provider IBM spacer Wednesday and Web search leader Google Inc spacer Thursday.
The Lightning Round is extended in this new CNBC.com exclusive feature.
The bottom: If not now, when? It's the question that traders, fund managers, analysts and investors were all asking, all week.
For the week ending Friday, March 28, 2008 the US Markets ended mixed after starting on a high note Monday extending last week's market rally. The winning streak came to an end on Tuesday when the Dow closing down for the first time in three sessions. The NASDAQ had the strongest performance of the week managing a positive gain despite weak earnings from Oracle and poor performance from Google . Economic data dragged on the markets with consumer sentiment and confidence at low levels and negative housing data.-Next week the markets will watch Friday's jobs report for evidence of recession, and any revisions on guidance as we move into earnings season. Alcoa kicks off "official" earnings season on Monday, April 7th after the bell. The big companies for next week all hit on Wednesday with RIM , Monsanto and Best Buy all reporting earnings.
Stocks advanced Friday, boosted by benign inflation data and an upgrade on Lehman Brothers.
Oracle reported a profit that rose 30 percent over last year and matched analysts' expectations, but the software company's shares fell as sales came in short of forecasts.
Stocks retreated Thursday after another analyst warning on the financial sector and disappointing earnings from Oracle.
Despite strong economic reports early on (both the weekly jobless claims and Personal Consumption Expenditures came in below expectations), the major indices ended on their lows for the day and the week.
Stocks retreated Thursday after another analyst warning on the financial sector and disappointing earnings from Oracle.
Stocks retreated Thursday after another analyst warning on the financial sector and disappointing earnings from Oracle.
Oracle's disappointing earnings report could hang over the tech sector Thursday morning. Traders will also be watching the fourth quarter final GDP number, reported at 8:30 a.m. and weekly jobless claims, also at 8:30.