Up on Monday
The big number of the day is the ISM report on manufacturing activity, scheduled for
release after trading begins.
If number fall well under expectations, could derail today's rally.
baz
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Over the last 33 years, March, on average, has produced gains of around 1 percent for
the Dow industrials and the S&P 500, according to the Stock Trader's Almanac.
For the Nasdaq, during an election year, March is typically the composite's worst month,
with average gains of 0.4 percent over 33 years, according to Almanac figures.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Key events in the week ahead
* Monday, the Commerce Department releases figures on personal income and spending for
January. Economists surveyed by Reuters expect that income rose 0.5 percent after
gaining 0.2 percent in the previous month. Spending is expected to have risen 0.4
percent, the same as it did the previous month.
* Also Monday, the Institute for Supply Management (ISM) releases its manufacturing
index for February, which is expected to fall to 62.0 from 63.6 in January.
* Wednesday, the ISM's report on the services sector of the economy, is due.
Economists polled by Reuters think the February index fell to 63.0 from 65.7
in January.
* Also Wednesday, the Federal Reserve releases its latest "beige book" report,
a periodic look at economic conditions supplied by 12 regional Fed banks around the
country.
* On Thursday, the government's January report on factory orders for new U.S. goods
is expected to show a gain of 1 percent, according to Reuters estimates, after
rising 1.1 percent in December.
* On Friday, the government releases its figures on payrolls and unemployment in
February. Economists surveyed by Reuters expect that employers added 125,000 new jobs
in the month after adding 112,000 jobs in January. The unemployment rate is forecast
to hold steady at 5.6 percent.