Wall Street to follow lead of Washington
This week on Wall Street will be largely shaped by events in Washington, with investors anticipating the passage of an economic stimulus bill while awaiting more details on how the Obama administration plans to save the nation’s ailing financial system.
Many analysts expect the government’s moves to give the market a boost but warn that the euphoria could be short-lived, keeping with a recent pattern in which the reality of the economy’s woes overshadows early optimism about government initiatives.
“You have Wall Street watching Washington, and you have Washington watching Wall Street,” said Marc Groz, managing member of Topos, an asset manager and risk advisory firm. “How it plays out is very unclear.”
The Senate is expected to pass an $827-billion stimulus bill Tuesday. The administration, however, still faces difficulties reconciling the Senate bill with $819-billion version that passed in the House. President Obama is pressing to have the stimulus measure -- designed to pull the economy out of the longest recession in decades -- on his desk for signing by mid-month.
Meanwhile, investors are anxiously awaiting a speech Tuesday by Treasury Secretary Timothy F. Geithner outlining the administration’s plan to overhaul the government’s $700-billion financial bailout program. Geithner had been scheduled to announce the plan Monday, but Treasury spokesman Isaac Baker said Sunday that the administration wanted to spend that day focused on the Senate’s effort to pass the stimulus bill.
JPMorgan equity strategist Thomas Lee said this could be one of the most important weeks of the year, with both the passage of a stimulus and a comprehensive plan for restoring the nation’s economy.
“Whatever plan is unveiled, it will establish a framework to rehabilitate the financial system,” he wrote in a research note. “The lack of a comprehensive plan has been an obvious source of uncertainty, keeping investors out of equities.”
Bank stocks in particular have been under considerable pressure as disappointing fourth-quarter results and forecasts of rising loan losses in 2009 have investors worried about the potential for a major bank failure.
At the same time, investors are concerned that new government efforts to prop up banks could hurt shareholders by diluting the value of their stock.
Many investors hope the government will relax accounting rules requiring businesses to assign a value to all of their assets each quarter. Critics have argued that “mark-to-market” rules have hampered banks amid the deepening financial crisis, mandating that they take unnecessary write-downs that don’t reflect the true value of soured mortgage-related assets and the prices they may garner in the future.
Wall Street finished last week sharply higher, boosted by a big rally on Friday in anticipation of the government’s plans. Investors were largely unfazed by a terrible jobs report. The Labor Department said U.S. employers slashed 598,000 jobs in January, sending the unemployment rate to 7.6%, the highest since 1992.
The Dow Jones industrials ended the week up 3.5%, the Standard & Poor’s 500 rose 5.2% and the Nasdaq composite posted a huge 7.8% gain.
“I think the market already knows that a package is going to be accepted,” said Keith Springer, president of Capital Financial Advisory Services. “That’s probably why we had a pre-gain.”
More than the passage of the stimulus, investors need to see bipartisan support, Springer said.
Investors “want to see people work together,” he said. “They want to see both sides believe it’s going to work.”
Even so, the realization that the government’s efforts will take time to influence the economy will probably keep investors on the sidelines, analysts said.
“When you have a run-up on the hope that the bill will be passed and you know that the bill is palliative and there’s a lot more pain to come, why do you want to buy? What is your theory?” Groz said. “There’s no rush to get back into equities.”
As earnings season winds down, investors will keep an eye on economic reports for signs the government’s efforts are working.
“The market has to decide emotionally if the worst is behind us,” Springer said.
Among the economic reports this week, the Commerce Department will release figures Tuesday on wholesale trade inventories for December, followed Wednesday by its report on international trade.
The Labor Department will release its weekly jobless claims report Thursday. Also that day, the Commerce Department will report on January retail sales as well as business inventories for December.
Home builders Beazer Homes USA Inc. and Toll Bros. Inc., and beverage makers Molson Coors Brewing Co., Coca-Cola Co. and PepsiCo Inc. are among the companies reporting financial results.
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At a glance
TODAY
Quarterly financial results are expected from Beazer Homes USA, Hasbro, NYSE Euronext and Whirlpool.
TUESDAY
Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner plans a speech outlining the Obama administration’s plan to overhaul the government’s $700-billion financial rescue program.
Commerce Department releases report on wholesale trade inventories for December.
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke testifies at a House Financial Services Committee hearing on the Fed’s efforts to provide liquidity in the financial crisis.
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee holds hearing on a new plan for the financial industry rescue.
Quarterly financial results expected from DirecTV Group, Molson Coors Brewing and Qwest Communications International.
WEDNESDAY
Commerce Department releases report on international trade for December.
Treasury releases federal budget for January.
Senate Budget Committee holds hearing on the crisis in the financial and housing markets.
Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on the need for more anti-fraud enforcement in the wake of the economic downturn.
Quarterly financial results are expected from Marsh & McLennan, Reynolds American and Toll Bros.
THURSDAY
Labor Department releases report on weekly jobless benefit claims.
Commerce Department releases the retail sales report for January.
Commerce Department releases report on business inventories for December.
Mortgage finance company Freddie Mac releases weekly mortgage rates.
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee holds hearing on consumer protection in the financial regulatory system, focusing on strengthening credit card protections.
Quarterly financial results are expected from Aetna, Coca-Cola, Marriott International, Viacom and Waste Management.
FRIDAY
Quarterly financial results are expected from Abercrombie & Fitch and PepsiCo.
