Benzinga Weekly Preview: US Markets Ending The Year On A High Note

Markets have been on a high recently with the technology sector leading the way.

Twitter’s incredible run up since its IPO in November will be closely watched by investors as they wonder how much momentum the company has left. Most analysts expect US markets to remain positive through the end of 2013, but are cautious about a significant retreat early in the New year.

Key Earnings Reports

Next week only one notable earnings release is expected from Lindsay Corporation LNN.

Lindsay Corporation

Lindsay Corporation is expected to report EPS of $0.89 on revenue of $142.20 million, compared to last year’s EPS of $1.15 on revenue of $147.37 million.

On December 23, Stifel reiterated its Hold rating on Lindsay Corporation after Kerrisdale Capital Management published a letter regarding its involvement in the company.

“Overall, Kerrisdale reports that it has found Lindsay management to be responsive to its shareholder concerns and the Lindsay Board to be proactive in seeking to maximize shareholder value. According to its most recent letter, Kerrisdale believes that the current Board is seriously considering ways to address Lindsay's underutilized cash balance and continues to consider adding shareholder-nominated representatives to the extent that it would facilitate improved corporate governance, management oversight and shareholder value creation.”

Economic Releases

With 2013 coming to a close next week and markets shut on Wednesday, economic data will be thin again. PMI data will steal the show with a host of manufacturing data from around the globe.

Daily Schedule

Monday

• Earnings Releases Expected: No notable earnings expected
• Economic Releases Expected:  Spanish retail sales, Italian business confidence, US pending home sales, South Korean CPI

Tuesday

• Earnings Expected: No notable earnings expected
• Economic Releases Expected: US consumer confidence, South Korean trade balance

Wednesday

Markets Closed For New Year’s Day

Thursday

• Earnings Expected From: Landec Corporation LNDC, Resources Connection, Inc. RECN
• Economic Releases Expected: Indian manufacturing PMI, Spanish manufacturing PMI, Hong Kong retail sales, Italian manufacturing PMI, French manufacturing PMI, German manufacturing PMI, eurozone manufacturing PMI, US manufacturing PMI, Canadian manufacturing PMI, US manufacturing PMI

Friday

• Earnings Expected From:  Lindsay Corporation LNN
• Economic Releases Expected:  British mortgage lending, British construction PMI