US. Stock market outlook week feb 21- 24 2012

US. Stock market outlook week feb 21- 24 2012 : U.S. stocks were little changed as optimism among European leaders about a Greek bailout failed to drive the Standard & Poor's 500 Index above last year's peak. The S&P 500 fell less than 0.1 percent to 1,357.53 at 11:27 a.m. New York time. It's near its April peak of 1,363.61, which was the highest level since June 2008. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 19.98 points, or 0.2 percent, to 12,924.06.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) is among several retailers expected to report their latest quarterly results next week, which is shortened by the Presidents Day holiday.

Technology heavyweights Dell Inc. (DELL) and Hewlett-Packard Co. (HPQ) also are scheduled to report earnings next week.

Other major companies reporting next week include Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT), Home Depot Inc. (HD) and Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS).

Markets will examine reports on January's existing home sales and new home sales, due Wednesday and Friday, respectively, for more insight into the sector's sluggish recovery. Bazaarvoice Inc. and Proto Labs Inc. are expected to debut next week.

A deluge of major retailers, including Wal-Mart, Saks Inc. (SKS), Macy's Inc. (M), Gap Inc. (GPS), Kohl's Corp. (KSS) and J.C. Penney Co. (JCP), are scheduled to release their latest earnings results.

U.S. retailers delivered generally solid January sales results amid an appetite for marked-down merchandise and some confidence among consumers to spend a little extra. Earlier this month, Gap projected fourth-quarter earnings ahead of estimates as Banana Republic outperformed the other segments and January same-store sales declined less than expected, while Kohl's raised its view as it saw better-than-expected same-store sales last month. Meanwhile, J.C. Penney has slashed its fiscal fourth-quarter guidance as sales and traffic were softer than anticipated for the latest period.

January Home Sales report
Reports on home sales and prices will offer more information on the state of the ailing housing sector next week.

On Wednesday, the National Association of Realtors will report on existing home sales for January. Economists surveyed by Dow Jones Newswires think resales of 4.65 million homes were sold last month, up slightly from the annual rate of 4.61 million in December.

Data on new U.S. home sales are scheduled to be released Friday. The Commerce Department's report is expected to show new home sales increased 2.6% to an annual rate of 315,000 in January.

Consumers have been reluctant to buy homes. The obstacles include worries about income prospects, inability to get financing and the lack of a sufficient down payment.

U.S. To Sell $99 Billion Treasury Notes Next Week
As expected, the U.S. Treasury plans to sell $35 billion of two-year notes on Tuesday, $35 billion of five-year notes Wednesday and $29 billion of seven-year notes on Thursday. Analysts expect the shorter-dated sales to go smoothly because of the Federal Reserve's stated intentions to keep rates low through at least late 2014.

Conferences
Among the scheduled conferences next week are the Consumer Analyst Group of New York Conference on Monday through Friday in Boca Raton, Fla.; EnerCom Inc.'s The Oil & Services Conference Tuesday through Thursday in San Francisco; the Barclays Industrial Select Conference on Wednesday and Thursday in Miami; and the Credit Suisse Global Paper & Packaging Conference on Wednesday and Thursday in New York.

Also scheduled are the Green Power Offshore Wind Power USA conference Wednesday through Friday in Boston; the National Investment Banking Association Investment Conference Wednesday through Friday in New Orleans; and the Jefferies Global Clean Technology Conference on Wednesday and Thursday in New York.

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