Weekend Reading: Earnings Time

Good Sunday morning. As always, here are some articles and papers worth reading. First, however, a look back at the week that just finished, and a look forward at the week ahead.

It was an indifferent week for the major markets, with all three major indices up nominally or not at all. The Dow ended the week where it began it, and the S&P 500 advanced 0.2%, and the Nasdaq was up 0.5%.

The Dow got a taste of 11,000, and then fell back somewhat. After the prior week's standout gains, a less eventful second trading week in 2006 wasn't too surprising. Nevertheless, optimism remains high that the year's early advances will continue, with rate increases ending shortly, and fourth-quarter corporate profits and guidance looking solid. ...