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 January suggests that economic activity has continued to strengthen and that the labor market is stabilizing. Household spending is expanding at a moderate rate but remains constrained by high unemployment, modest income growth, lower housing wealth, and tight credit. Business spending on equipment and software has risen significantly. However, investment in nonresidential structures is declining, housing starts have been flat at a depressed level, and employers remain reluctant to add to payrolls. 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.

With substantial resource slack continuing to restrain cost pressures and longer-term inflation expectations stable, inflation is likely to be subdued for some time...

Federal Reserve Chief Ben Bernanke's report to the U.S. House Financial Committee.

"Broadly speaking, the Federal Reserve's response to the crisis and the recession can be divided into two parts... Ben Bernanke's report...

 GDP:  2-26-2010  9:03 am ET- Real Gross Domestic Product (GDP), the output of goods and services produced in the United States, increased at a rate of 5.9 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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3-18-2010  9:11 am ET: The advanced figure for seasonally adjusted initial jobless claims was 457,000, a decrease of 5,000 from the previous week (unrevised).

Jobless claims report

Initial Jobless Claims Chart

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