While the Dow Jones Industrial Average
Market-watchers will get another insight into the jobs recovery when initial unemployment claims are reported today at 8:30 a.m. ET. The market expects a total of 375,000 new filings following last week's total of 388,000. The last three initial claims totals have come in higher than expectations, another bad sign ahead of Friday's jobs reports.
Later in the morning, the ISM Services Report is due out at 10 a.m. ET. Tuesday's ISM manufacturing report helped send blue chips up 66 points, as the Purchasing Managers Index came in 1.8 points ahead of expectations. Considering that the ADP said the service sector added 123,000 jobs last month, improvements could be even stronger in the service index. The market is eyeing a figure 55.5 for April, indicating solid expansion in the sector.
On the earnings calendar, one Dow stock is set to report today: Kraft Foods
Other developing stories to watch include a German court ruling that Microsoft
Finally, Chesapeake Energy
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