Weekly Outlook

Click here for Wall St. Week Ahead by Reuters.

Click here for stocks in focus for Monday by MarketWatch.

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

Economic reports for the week include:

Mon. – None of note

Tues. – Trade Deficit, IBD/TIPP Economic Optimism, Monthly Budget Statement, weekly retail sales reports

Wed. – Weekly MBA mortgage applications report, weekly EIA energy inventory data, Import Price Index, Advance Retail Sales, Business Inventories

Thur. – Consumer Price Index, Initial Jobless Claims

Fri. – Empire Manufacturing, Net Long-term TIC Flows, Industrial Production, Capacity Utilization, Univ. of Mich. Consumer Confidence

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

Mon. – Conseco Inc.(CNO), SYSCO Corp.(SYY), Calpine Corp.(CPN), Clear Channel(CCO), Flour Corp.(FLR), McDermott(MDR), Cousins Properties(CUZ), Carmike Cinemas(CKEC), Nuance Communications(NUAN),

Tues. – BearingPoint(BE), TJX Cos(TJX), Bob Evans(BOBE), Nvidia Corp.(NVDA), Applied Materials(AMAT)

Wed. – Liz Claiborne(LIZ), Dr. Pepper Snapple(DPS), NetApp Inc.(NTAP), Intrepid Potash(IPI), Deere(E), Macy’s(M)

Thur. – Urban Outfitters(URBN), Red Robin(RRGB), Kohl’s Corp.(KSS), Agilent(A), Estee Lauder(EL), JM Smucker(SJM), Wal-Mart(WMT), Nordstrom(JWN), DeVry(DV), Briggs & Stratton(BGG), Autodesk(ADSK)

Fri. – Abercrombie & Fitch(ANF), JC Penney(JCP)

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

Mon. – (GSX) analyst meeting, (AEZ) analyst meeting, (STSA) analyst meeting, (ESIO) technology tour, Keefe Bruyette Woods Bank Conference, EnerCom Oil & Gas Conference, CSFB Electrical Equipment Conference, CSFB Tech Communications Conference

Tue. – (FEIC) investor meeting, (SIG) investor day, UBS Engineering & Construction Conference, EnerCom Oil & Gas Conference, CSFB Tech Communications Conference, CanaccordAdams Growth Conference, CSFB Electrical Equipment Conference, Keefe Bruyette Woods Bank Conference

Wed. – CanaccordAdams Growth Conference, JPMorgan Auto Conference, EnerCom Oil & Gas Conference, CSFB Electrical Equipment Conference

Thur. – CanaccordAdams Growth Conference, EnerCom Oil & Gas Conference, JPMorgan Auto Conference

Fri. – None of note

BOTTOM LINE: I expect US stocks to finish the week modestly higher on less inflation concern, bargain-hunting, a bounce in emerging markets, diminishing credit market fear, mostly positive earnings reports, lower commodity prices, a firmer US dollar and short-covering. My trading indicators are giving bullish signals and the Portfolio is 100% net long heading into the week.