The Week Ahead

Major stock indexes were higher for the week. The S&P 500 rose 0.79%.

The top four areas facing the market in this trading week are:

Geopolitical and Fiscal Events. The latest Federal Reserve Beige Book is due out on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. EDT. Thursday the latest ECB Minutes are due out before the market opens. Watch our Twitter feed Bullet86 for a heads up on Fed Speakers due out each day that could impact markets.

Economic Releases. Releases of note this week include the weekly chain store sales, oil/gas numbers, mortgage applications and Empire State Manufacturing, NAHB Housing Market Index, Housing Starts, Philadelphia Fed Index, Existing Home Sales and Leading Indicators.

Earnings Releases. Notable releases this upcoming week include: SCHW STT (Mon) JNJ BAC NFLX LMT GS ISRG (Tues) TSLA ABT MS IBM USB LVS (Wed) TSM PM T UNP (Thurs) PG SAP HCA (Fri).

Monday, April 17th

April Empire State Manufacturing were out at 8:30 a.m. EDT and came in at 10.80 from an expected -19.00.

April NAHB Housing Market Index were out at 10:00 a.m. EDT and came in at 45 from an expected 44.

Tuesday, April 18th

March Housing Starts were  out at 8:30 a.m. EDT and came in at 1,420,000 against 1,432,000.

Wednesday, April 19th

The latest Federal Reserve Beige Book is due out at 2:00 p.m. EDT.

Thursday, April 20th

April Philadelphia Fed Index is due out at 8:30 a.m. EDT and is expected to improve to -20 from -23.20.

The latest European Central Bank (ECB) Minutes from their last meeting are due out before the open.

March Existing Home Sales are due out at 10:00 a.m. EDT and are expected to fall to 4.50 million from 4.58 million.

March Leading Indicators are due out at 10:00 a.m. EDT and are expected to fall to -0.40% from -0.30%.

Friday, April 21st

No major economic releases of note.