The December unemployment rate, set to be released next Friday,
is expected to ease to 9.7% from 9.8% in November, according to The
Wall Street Journal's Economic Forecasting Survey.
Auto makers and retailers will report their U.S. sales results
for December next week, with both industries expected to benefit
from consumers growing confidence. However, auto makers' sales
continue to be down from pre-recession levels, and retailers remain
concerned about higher fuel and cotton prices in 2011.
The tech industry is scheduled next week to meet at
International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. The event is
used to show off the latest devices the companies hope to sell
throughout the rest of the year.
December Unemployment Rate Expected To Fall To 9.7%
A number of key economic reports are due next week, including
December's unemployment rate and hourly earnings figures from the
U.S. Department of Labor. The number of U.S. workers filing new
claims for jobless benefits slid last week to the lowest level in
nearly two and a half years, indicating that labor-market
conditions continue to improve. The data for December is considered
a strong indicator of whether U.S. economic growth will pick up
steam in 2011.
Auto Makers Expected To Post Strong U.S. Sales For December
Auto makers are expected to post higher U.S. sales for the month
of December, as the industry continues to benefit from improved
sales of trucks and other large vehicles, a trend that has
continued for months. Car-shopping website Edmunds.com predicted
five of the six top auto makers will report higher sales from a
year ago, with only Toyota Motor Corp. (TM, 7203.TO) forecast to
post weaker results, a trend that has continued after a recall in
early 2010.
U.S. Retail Sales Likely To Be Strong For December
U.S. retailers will next week report sales results for December,
a month many expect will be positive as consumers regain confidence
in the economy. According to MasterCard SpendingPulse, U.S. retail
sales, excluding automobiles, grew 5.5% between Nov. 5 and Dec. 24
compared with a year ago. Retailers' results were hurt by a
calendar shift that resulted in Christmas falling on a Saturday,
while blizzards in the Northeast likely postponed some
post-Christmas sales.
Companies To Show Off Devices At Tech Event In Las Vegas
The International Consumer Electronics Show, one of the tech
industry's biggest and most important gatherings, kicks off next
week in Las Vegas. The event is used by companies to show off the
devices, gadgets and gizmos they hope to sell throughout the rest
of the year. Major participants this year include Microsoft Corp.
(MSFT), Intel Corp. (INTC) and Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
(005930.SE, SSNHY).
Manufacturers including Motorola Inc. (MOT), Dell Inc. (DELL)
and Acer Inc. (2353.TW) are expected to unveil new tablet computers
they hope will provide competition for Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) iPad,
which ignited consumer interest in the nascent product category.
Analysts expect tablet sales to boom over the next four years,
offering new streams of revenue and a new avenue of growth.
Other areas to watch include telecommunications and televisions.
AT&T Inc. (T) and Verizon Wireless are expected to give updates
on planned network upgrades to increase speed and reliability to
support the fast-growing number of smartphones flooding their
networks. The television industry is also expected to discuss its
plans for 3D TV sales, which are said to have been disappointing
during the recent holiday shopping season.
Oprah Winfrey's OWN Network To Debut On Saturday
Media mogul Oprah Winfrey's cable channel, OWN: The Oprah
Winfrey Network, is set to air in about 85 million homes on
Saturday, replacing cable channel Discovery Health. OWN--a 50-50
venture between Winfrey and Discovery Communications Inc. (DISCA)
is launching at least 22 original series next year as it aims to
double its predecessor's target audience in prime-time by the end
of its first year on the air.
Earnings Results Due From Mosaic, Constellation Brands
Corporate quarterly earnings results are expected next week from
fertilizer maker Mosaic Co. (MOS) on Tuesday, and winemaker
Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) and seed maker Monsanto Co. (MON)
on Thursday.
The trio are expected to report improved results from a year
ago, according to analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters. Mosaic has
recently benefited from higher commodity prices, although higher
costs are a concern for 2011, while Monsanto is projected to swing
to a quarterly profit.
Constellation Brands, which last week agreed to sell a
controlling stake in its struggling Australian and U.K. operations,
has said more consumers are trading up to higher-priced wines as
the industry offers substantial discounts and promotions in that
price bracket.
U.S. Congress Session Begins; GOP To Assume Control Of House
The U.S. government will enter a vastly different political
landscape on Monday, as the 112th U.S. Congress is set to meet in
the District of Columbia. The Republican Party gained the majority
in the House of Representatives, while the Democratic Party
maintained a majority in the Senate, although the number of seats
it will hold in the upper house was reduced.
One of the first proposals facing the government will be
President Barack Obama's budget plan for fiscal 2012, due for
release in mid-February. A battle over spending is expected, as
Republicans hope to reduce domestic federal spending to the levels
of 2008, while White House officials have said cuts of that
magnitude would hurt the economic recovery.
Outsourcing Firm Patni Board Likely To Meet On Bid
Patni Computer Systems Ltd's (532517.BY) board is likely to meet
early next week to consider a joint bid by Apax Partners LLP and
iGate Corp. (IGTE) to buy a controlling stake in the information
technology outsourcing company, according to three people familiar
with the matter. The deal, if it proceeds, would be one of the
largest mergers in India's technology space in recent years.
NFL Regular Season Ends Sunday; Playoff Seeds To Be Set
The National Football League's 32 teams play their final games
of the regular season on Sunday, games that will finalize the
playoff picture for the top 12 teams. Meanwhile, talk of a possible
lockout in 2011 looms as NFL owners and the players' union work to
negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement.
-By John Kell, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2480;
john.kell@dowjones.com
-Ian Sherr and Dow Jones Newswires staff contributed to this
article.
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