Weekly Outlook

Click here for Wall St. Week Ahead by Reuters.

Click here for stocks in focus for Monday by MarketWatch.

There are several economic reports of note and a number of significant corporate earnings reports scheduled for release this week.

Economic reports for the week include:

Mon. – ISM Manufacturing, ISM Prices Paid, Construction Spending

Tues. – Weekly retail sales, Vehicle Sales, Factory Orders

Wed. – Weekly MBA Mortgage Applications Report, Weekly EIA Energy Inventory Data, Challenger Job Cuts Report, ADP Employment Report, Non-farm Productivity, Unit Labor Costs, ISM Non-Manufacturing

Thur. – Initial Jobless Claims, ICSC Chain Store Sales

Fri. – Change in Non-farm Payrolls, Unemployment Rate, Average Hourly Earnings, Wholesale Inventories, Consumer Credit

Some of the more noteworthy companies that release quarterly earnings this week are:

Mon. – Intrepid Potash(IPI), Lululemon Athletica(LULU)

Tues. – Toll Brothers(TOL), Bob Evans Farms(BOBE), Hovnanian(HOV), Copart Inc.(CPRT), Guess?(GES)

Wed. – Williams-Sonoma(WSM), Martek Biosciences(MATK), ADC Telecom(ADCT)

Thur. – Ciena Corp.(CIEN), Dr Pepper Snapple(DPS), Smithfield Foods(SFD), Jackson Hewitt(JTX), Brown-Forman(BF/B), National Semi(NSM), Cooper Cos(COO), Focus Media(FMCN), Quiksilver Inc.(ZQK), Take-Two Interactive(TTWO), Vail Resorts(MTN), Del Monte(DLM)

Fri. – Forn/Ferry(KFI)

Other events that have market-moving potential this week include:

Mon. – The Fed’s Lockhart speaking, (MDT) analyst meeting, (NVDA) investor briefing, (PMTC) analyst event, (EXEL) investor briefing, (UDR) investor day, RBC Energy Conference, Goldman Lodging/Gaming/Restaurant/Leisure Conference, ASCO 2008

Tue. – (ALTR) mid-quarter update, (CNC) analyst meeting, (THC) analyst meeting, (INFA) analyst meeting, Goldman Lodging/Gaming/Restaurant/Leisure Conference, JPMorgan Basics/Industrials Conference, RBC Energy Conference, Oppenheimer Communications/Tech Conference

Wed. – The Fed’s Lockhart speaking, (NFP) analyst meeting, (SPR) investor day, (BOBE) analyst meeting, Keefe Bruyette Woods Financial Services Conference, JPMorgan Basics/Industrials Conference, KeyBanc Transports Conference, Stephens Investment Conference, Oppenheimer Communications/Tech Conference

Thur. – (CSC) investor meeting, (HD) investor conference, (KLAC) analyst day, Jefferies Global Clean Tech Conference, BMO Healthcare Staffing Forum, Stephens Investment Conference, CSFB Environmental/Engineering Services Conference, Keefe Bruyette Woods Financial Services Conference, Merrill Ag Chemicals Conference, Citi Power/Gas/Utilities Conference

Fri. – The Fed’s Evans speaking, Fed’s Bullard speaking, Canaccord Adams Diabetes/Obesity Conference, Sandler O’Neil Global Exchange/Electronic Trading Conference

BOTTOM LINE: I expect US stocks to finish the week modestly higher on a stronger US dollar, lower energy prices, diminishing credit market angst, less economic pessimism and short-covering. My trading indicators are giving bullish signals and the Portfolio is 100% net long heading into the week.