DAILY STOCK MARKET FORECAST

The central bank of the United States is responsible for;

Conducting monetary policy.

Regulating banking institutions.

Maintaining stability.

Fed target [interest rates]

FOMC keeps a range of .00 to .25 percent for the target of the Federal funds rate:

Zero to 1/4 percent

Read the FOMC statement...   Board of Governors   About the Fed

Fed: "Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in December suggests that economic activity has continued to strengthen and that the deterioration in the labor market is abating. Household spending is expanding at a moderate rate but remains constrained by a weak labor market, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit. Business spending on equipment and software appears to be picking up, but investment in structures is still contracting and employers remain reluctant to add to payrolls. Firms have brought inventory stocks into better alignment with sales. While bank lending continues to contract, financial market conditions remain supportive of economic growth. Although the pace of economic recovery is likely to be moderate for a time, the Committee anticipates a gradual return to higher levels of resource utilization in a context of price stability...

 GDP:  1-29-2010  8:55 am ET- Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the output of goods and services produced in the United States, increased at a rate of 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009, according to estimates released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.   Read the current Gross Domestic Product release   GDP chart

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) chart 1987 through current year:

GDP, Real Gross Domestic Product chart 1987 through current reporting period.

GDP, Real Gross Domestic Product chart percent change from preceding year.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA- agency of the Department of Commerce) produces economic statistics that enable government and business decision-makers, researchers, and the American public to follow and understand the performance of the Nation's economy. They collect source data, conduct research and analysis, develops and implements estimation methodologies, and disseminates statistics to the public… read more about the BEA

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2- 4-2010  9:45 am ET: The advanced figure for seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims was 480,000, an increase of 8,000 from the previous week (revised).

Jobless claims report

Initial Jobless Claims Chart

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