Last week

Dow 12,369 -451.22 (-3.52%)
Nasdaq 2,778 -155.03 (-5.28%)
S&P 500 1,295 -58.17 (-4.3%)

Greece was in the spotlight again last week as fears grew the country may drop out of the euro zone. There has reportedly been an increase in Greek bank deposit withdrawals. If the ECB makes a move to guarantee deposits throughout the eurozone in the coming weeks, the markets may react positively.

The euro currency was down this week, and markets followed suit. Economic indicators continued to be mixed in the US markets. The fed seems concerned that the recovery is slowing down and action might be necessary - possibly further quantitative easing.

The US markets last week experience one of the worst weeks for the indexes this year so far. Equities dropped sharply, largely due to the unknowns in the eurozone. Retail data remains strong for the US. Forward looking economic indicators, most notably initial jobless claims and building permits, fell last week to negative percentages. 

On Friday, Facebook (FB) launched its much anticipated IPO, which closed just above the starting price, gaining 0.6%. Some investors see the stock falling below the starting price in the coming weeks, should the underwritters stop supporting the stock and market conditions deteriorate. Other social media stocks fell on Friday, including Groupon (GRPN), Yelp (YELP), Pandora (P) and LinkedIn (LNKD).

Week Ahead

Some analysts believe with deteriorating conditions in Europe, slowing economic indicators, and earning season coming to a close, that the markets will fall further this week. 

The start of the week will be closely watched for housing data, including the existing home sales report and new home sales, out Tuesday and Wednesday respectively. Jobless claims will also be watched, as last week’s indicator remained unchanged. 

Major earnings reports next week include Lowe’s Companies (LOW), Dell (DELL), Genesco (GCO) Petsmart (PETM), Best Buy (BBY), NetApp (NTAP), Autozone (AZO), Toll Brothers (TOL) and Pandora Media (P).

Major Economic Releases

Existing Home Sales - Tuesday, May 22nd
New Home Sales - Wednesday, May 23rd
EIA Petroleum Status Report - Wednesday, May 23rd
Durable Goods Orders - Thursday, May 24th
Jobless Claims - Thursday, May 24th
Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index - Thursday, May 24th
Fed Balance Sheet - Thursday, May 24th
Money Supply - Thursday, May 24th
Consumer Sentiment - Friday, May 25th

Last week

Dow 12,820 -34.44 (-0.27%)
Nasdaq 2,933 +0.18 (+0.01%)
S&P 500 1,353 -4.60 (-0.34%)

Last week European rejection of austerity measures stole the spotlight. The new French president has promised limits to austerity measures, and two new parties elected in Greece are both pro-bailout. 

In the US positive signs were shown. The jobless claims fell in line with analysts’ expectations and April’s PPI dropped .02%, easing concerns of inflation. Indexes were down for the week, and equities were mixed - due largely in part to reactions from European politics.

The latest international trade reports suggest signs that both domestic and global demand is strengthening again. Consumer in the US are borrowing more - the rise in credit is attributed largely to student loans.

Week Ahead

Two different headlines will be grabbing investors attention this week. Europe will largely dominate the news, as Greece continues to build a new government and Francois Hollande, President-Elect of France, and German Chancello Angela Merkel are scheduled to meet Tuesday. 

Facebook is schedule to launch its much anticipated IPO on Friday. The social network is hoping to raise roughly $10.6 billion, selling shares for a reported $25 - $35.

JP Morgan will also be in the news this coming week as it continues to recover from the fallout of $2 billion loss. Last week the bank saw its credit rating fall by both Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor.

Major earnings report this week include Groupon (GRPN), Dick’s Sporting Goods (DKS), Wal-Mart (WMT), Silver Wheaton (SLW), J.C. Penny (JCP), Salesforce (CRM), Dollar Tree (DLTR), TJX Companies (TJX), Limited Brands (LTD), Gap (GPS), Deere & Co (DE), and Target (TGT).

Major Economic Releases

Consumer Price Index - Tuesday, May 15
Retail Sales - Tuesday, May 15
Treasury International Capital - Tuesday, May 15
Housing Market Index - Tuesday, May 15
Housing Starts - Wednesday, May 16
Industrial Production - Wednesday, May 16
FOMC Minutes - Wednesday, May 16
EIA Petroleum Status Report - Wednesday, May 16
Jobless Claims - Thursday, May 17
Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index - Thursday, May 17
Philadelphia Fed Survey - Thursday, May 17

Trade responsibly!

Cheers

Roboinvest Team

Hey Roboinvestors,

For those based in New York, grab yourself a copy of the latest New York Observer newspaper featuring an article about social trading by Adrianne Jeffries, who also blogs for Betabeat.

The article includes Roboinvest and comments by our CEO Michael Giles, as well as a bunch of others making it a very interesting weekend read.

So check it out and happy trading!

Cheers

Mike & the Roboinvest Team

Follow @Roboinvest on Twitter

(download)

Click here to download:

roboinvest-in-the-new-york-observer-newspaper-kzvkbDkeAnmyxBGnxlfg.zip (3.01 MB)

Last week

Dow 13,038 -168.32 (-1.27%)
Nasdaq 2,956 -67.96 (-2.25%)
S&P 500 1,378 -22.47 (-1.61%)

Last week showed evidence of a slowdown in the US economic recovery. Stocks last week fell largely in part to disappointments from the economics indicators.

The ADP and labor department both presented increases in jobs that fell well below expectations, 119,000 and 115,000 respectively. The job addition is the lowest since October. Unemployment also fell, to 8.1%, due to reductions in the overall labor force.

ISM non-manufacturing index fell last week to 53.5 for the month of April, down from 60 the previous month, further suggesting a slowing recovery.

The economic health of the Eurozone still has investors concerned. However, the bright spot of last week came from corporate earnings, many of which continue to perform above expectations.

Week Ahead

This next week is light on the economic indicator side. However, there are a few keys releases that investors will be watching including consumer credit - consumers willingness to spend money, as well as the PPI and consumer sentiment. Thursday’s releases will give insight into international trade health.

Abroad, Francois Hollande from the French socialist party claimed victory over the incumbent president Nicolas Sarkozy in France. The election became essentially a public forum on the European austerity measures. The world will be closely watching how Europe moves, after German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Sarkozy had worked so closely together on the debt crisis.

Major earnings this week including DISH Network (DISH), Walt Disney (DIS) DirecTV (DTV), MAKO Surgical (MAKO), Rackspace Hosting (RAX), Transdigm Group (TDG), Priceline (PCLN), and Cisco Systems (CSCO).

Major Economic Releases

Consumer credit - Monday, May 7th
Redbook - Tuesday, May 8th 
EIA Petroleum Status Report - Wednesday, May 9th
Wholesale Inventories - Wednesday, May 9th
International Trade - Thursday, May 10th
Jobless Claims - Thursday, May 10th
Import and Export Prices - Thursday, May 10th
Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index - Thursday, May 10th
Treasury Budget - Thursday, May 10th
Fed Balance Sheet - Thursday, May 10th
Monday Supply - Thursday, May 10th
Producer Price Index - Friday, May 11th
Consumer Sentiment - Friday, May 11th

Cheers

Roboinvest Team

Last week

Dow 13,029 +65.16 (+0.50%)
Nasdaq 3,000 -7.11 (-0.24%)
S&P 500 1,378 +1.61 (+0.12%)

Last week the US markets started off with a drop Monday, due to negative news from Europe. The Dutch government rejected EU imposed austerity measures - increasing concerns about a break up in the euro zone. 

Good news followed for the rest of the week in the US market. Jobless claims were slightly up.  Durable goods orders were up and first quarter inflation was 2.2% - below the 2.5% which was expected. The unemployment fell due to more people dropping out of the job search, rather than employment increases.

Apple Inc. (AAPL) released their first quarter earnings last week, which were well above expectations and help to stir positive vibes in the market. The tech giant saw large swings this week, reaching nearly $550 early last week and surging towards $618 after the earnings report Wednesday.

Week Ahead

Investors will be watching a few important economic releases this week. The most eyed are likely to be Jobless Claims, on Thursday, followed Friday by the Employment Situation. Factory Orders and Motor Vehicle Sales will also give clues to the level of health in the market. 

Investors are hoping for a drop in jobless claims - the last three weeks have brought disappointing results.

First quarter earnings releases for this upcoming week include; Kraft Food Inc., CVS Caremark Corp., Visa Inc., ADP, and AllState, among others.

Major Economic Releases

Personal Income and Outlays - Monday, April 30th
Chicago PMI - Monday, April 30th
Dallas Fed Mfg Survey - Monday, April 30th
Motor Vehicle Sales - Tuesday, May 1st
Construction Spending - Tuesday, May 1st
ADP Employment Report - Wednesday, May 2nd
Factory Order - Wednesday, May 2nd
EIA Petroleum Status Report - Wednesday, May 2nd
Jobless Claims - Thursday, May 3rd
Productivity and Costs - Thursday, May 3rd
ISM Non-mfg index - Thursday, May 3rd
Employment Situation - Friday, May 4th

Cheers,

Roboinvest Team
#InvestTogether 

Hey Roboinvestors,

We've been working hard to integrate our next online broker partner TradeKing.

To take advantage of the launch, open a TradeKing account and fund it as soon as possible, you do not want to miss this.

This integration makes our innovative 1-click copy trading feature available to all 300,000 TradeKing customers.

I am excited that we are working with TradeKing, and look forward to a long and successful relationship.

Cheers

Mike & the Roboinvest Team
#InvestTogether

Follow me on Twitter

Last week

Dow 13,029 +65.16 (+0.50%)
Nasdaq 3,000 -7.11 (-0.24%)
S&P 500 1,378 +1.61 (+0.12%)

First quarter earnings this year have reported a majority of positive earnings, including many earnings surprises. The market closed stronger this week, largely impart to positive earnings and reports. News from Bloomberg (link) reported nearly 80% of first quarter earnings reports have beaten analyst estimates.

The U.S. continues to see economic growth, which many analyst contribute to unseasonably warm temperatures and a gain in auto sales. 

Concern rose again in Europe last week, as bond yields spiked in both Spain and Italy. Austerity and recession will continue to dominate European financial news. 

Despite largely positive domestic financial news this week, many investors are still wary of a continued market correction.

Apple finished this week down roughly 10% down from its highest level this year. 

Week Ahead

This upcoming week has several important economic report releases, including Durable Goods, Jobless Claims, consumer confidence, and GDP.

This week is full of important earnings reports including Apple (AAPL) which will be carefully watched on Tuesday, Caterpillar Inc. (CAT), Boeing Co. (BA), Procter & Gamble Co (PG), and 3M (MMM).

Apple will be the star of the earnings reports, where investors will be looking to see if the tech giant can sustain its momentum from the last earnings report.

Major Economic Releases

New Home Sales - Tuesday, April 24th
Consumer Confidence - Tuesday, April 24th
Durable Goods Orders - Wednesday, April 25th
EIA Petroleum Status Report - Wednesday, April 25th
FOMC Forecasts - Wednesday, April 25th
Chairman Press Conference - Wednesday, April 25th
Jobless Claims - Thursday, April 26th
Pending Home Sales Index - Thursday, April 26th
GDP - Friday, April 27th
Employment Cost Index - Friday, April 27th
Consumer Sentiment - Friday, April 27th

Cheers

Roboinvest Team
#InvestTogether 

Hey Roboinvestors!

This morning our CEO Michael Giles was interviewed live on the floor of the NYSE by Margaret Brennan for InBusiness.

We love every single one of our Roboinvestors and hope to continue to bring you a great social trading experience.

Click here to watch the video on Bloomberg.

Cheers

Roboinvest Team

Our Founder/CEO Michael Giles will be on Bloomberg TV live from the New York Stock Exchange tomorrow April 17 at 10.45am EST talking to Margaret Brennan about Roboinvest.

Be sure to check it out!

Cheers

Roboinvest Team

Hey Roboinvestors,

Today there was a great article about Roboinvest on Bloomberg Businessweek by Ira Boudway.

You can read it here: http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-04-16/following-other-peoples-stock-picks-just-got-easier

Remember, trade responsibly.

We hope you like it!

Cheers

Michael "Mike" Giles (Twitter)
Fonder/CEO
Roboinvest
#InvestTogether

You can follow me on Roboinvest here and I copy other Roboinvestors here.