Stocks closed slightly lower after fluctuating in a narrow range for most of the session Monday as investors appeared reluctant to make big commitments ahead of the news from the U.S. and European central banks later this week.
Consumer staples companies have been consistently beating earnings estimates so far this quarter. With several big names reporting in the week ahead, the question is: Will the trend continue?
Now's not the time to talk about breaking up the banks, Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), told CNBC’s “Closing Bell” on Thursday. Frank was responding to former Citigroup CEO Sanford Weill’s call on Wednesday to separate commercial banks from investment banks.
Companies are getting out and traveling in search of growth, Frits van Paasschen, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide president & CEO, told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Thursday.
US banks are already separating banking operations, so there's no need for the radical breakup suggested by former Citigroup chairman Sandy Weill, Meredith Whitney told CNBC Wednesday.
Caterpillar chief executive officer Doug Oberhelman told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” on Wednesday he’s optimistic the global economy is improving long term despite mixed signals currently.
American consumers pulled back in June but lower wage growth in China is helping margins, Jarden's executive chairman, Martin Franklin, told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” on Tuesday.
Europe and the “fiscal cliff” are two of the big depressants weighing on the equity markets, Wharton school finance professor Jeremy Siegel tells CNBC. Once they're resolved, the Dow can head to 15,000, Siegel said.