It's been a long time since investors have been this bored. The heart of earnings season has passed, and major indexes sit largely stagnant. Sure, the Dow Jones Industrial Average
Data
Although it's always retrospective, looking at economic data helps to highlight some broader economic trends, as well as some more industry-focused metrics. This morning, investors receive a reading on second-quarter GDP and numbers on corporate profits for Q2, both of which fall into the highly backward-looking category. At 10 a.m. EDT, a more useful number on July's pending home sales is released, with expectations for a 1% gain versus June's 1.4% drop.
The Isaac Effect
While it's not the 100-year storm that Katrina was, Hurricane Isaac will test New Orleans' $15 billion flood defenses. All appears to be going well thus far, but with the slow-moving storm dumping massive amounts of rain on the area, we'll have to wait to learn about the level of damage. One group especially focused on the storm's impact is Gulf oil producers, such as Anadarko Petroleum
Earnings
There are always a few stragglers reporting earnings after the main period of earnings season has passed. This morning, investors hear from three S&P 500 components: Brown-Forman, H.J. Heinz, and Joy Global
Foolish bottom line
Though we'll receive our daily dose of economic data and a few earnings reports today, the fact remains that this week will remain as monotonous as Ben Stein's voice. However, slow-moving markets can be a godsend for investors who need to refocus their attention on building a portfolio full of great businesses built for the long term. To help, our analysts have highlighted a few of their favorite long-term picks in this special free report: "The 3 Dow Stocks Dividend Investors Need." To claim an instant copy of this report, simply click here now.