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 NEW YORK (AP) - After another record-setting week on Wall Street, investors are wondering whether stocks are due for a fall or are headed even higher. This week's words from the Federal Reserve and retail sales could provide some clues.
Recently, it has seemed as if nothing can derail the stock market's climb. Economic reports last week were mixed, but institutional investors remained enthusiastic thanks to soaring takeover activity. News Corp.'s bid for Dow Jones & Co. reinvigorated the stock market Tuesday after a morning of mixed economic news, and on Friday, reports that Microsoft Corp. might be mulling a buy of Yahoo Inc. nudged stocks higher despite lackluster jobs data.
Overall, economic data has shown slow and steady growth, alleviating investors' fears about recession. Still, worries linger about stagflation — slowing growth amid soaring prices — and what the Federal Reserve would do about it.
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