Coming Week: Rough Seas Ahead

"Given the bad monthly jobs report that came out [Friday], people will be looking at it even closer," says Johnson.

Retail sales figures set to be released Friday should have minimal impact, since most major retailers reported monthly statistics already. Consumer sentiment may also have little effect, with a possible negative effect of a contracting job market offset by the positivity of lower fuel prices. However, Vinny Catalano, chief investment strategist at Blue Marble Research, says consumer credit report to be released Monday should not be overlooked, since it will provide evidence of how much Americans are relying on credit to finance their lifestyles.

"When you're looking at the U.S. economy, No. 1 is the U.S. consumer," says Catalano. "It's the big dog and you need to know what the big dog is eating."

The pending home sales report slated for Tuesday will also provide evidence of the health of the consumer, and whether home prices have dropped far enough for a housing-market rebound. Trade data to be released Tuesday might also provide a lift, as a historically weak dollar has allowed exports to help prop up the economy as consumers get back on their feet.

Whatever occurs in the market next week, investors can find opportunities in incredibly depressed share prices of companies with strong fundamentals, says Alan Gayle, senior investment strategist for RidgeWorth Capital Management. Indeed, investors hunting for cheap financial and consumer-discretionary stocks helped boost the market into positive territory on Friday afternoon.

"These are fire-sale prices, because turmoil creates opportunity," says Gayle. "And if you look at the credit markets, I think you can safely say we have turmoil."

1 What would best describe your stance heading into the coming week of trading? Bullish Bearish Neutral 2 Which of these sectors do you think is set to move up in the coming week? --Choose One--Aerospace and DefenseAirlinesAutomobilesBeverages and Food ProductsBiotechnologyCommercial BanksComputers and PeripheralsConsumer NondurablesEnergy Equipment & ServicesHMOs and HospitalsHomebuildingInsuranceIntegrated OilInternet, Software ServicesInvestment Bankers and BrokersMediaMultiline RetailPharmaceuticalsPrecious MetalsSemis, Semi EquipmentTelecom EquipmentTobacco and AlcoholWireless CommunicationsUtilities 3 Which of these sectors do you think is set to move down in the coming week? --Choose One--Aerospace and DefenseAirlinesAutomobilesBeverages and Food ProductsBiotechnologyCommercial BanksComputers and PeripheralsConsumer NondurablesEnergy Equipment & ServicesHMOs and HospitalsHomebuildingInsuranceIntegrated OilInternet, Software ServicesInvestment Bankers and BrokersMediaMultiline RetailPharmaceuticalsPrecious MetalsSemis, Semi EquipmentTelecom EquipmentTobacco and AlcoholWireless CommunicationsUtilities View the results without voting