A Week Full of Economic Numbers

This week we have a plethora of economic data coming out that will definitely keep the markets on top of their toes, including the two day FOMC meetings which may or may not end with another interest rate cut. Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and the crew have a pretty nice conundrum with increasing inflation on one hand and providing relief to the financial markets in a credit crunch that hasn't abated yet. By far the most important number coming out this week will be Wednesday's 1st Quarter GDP numbers. 4th Quarters numbers calmed some recessionary fears on a technical basis since a recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth and this week's numbers would be serving the same purpose for all concerned parties. The concensus growth estimate is an unimpressive 0.3 and depending on rather the actual numbers are on the high or low mark of this estimate can be a major catalyst for "volatility and profits"... we will definitely keep our eyes focus on what happens and act accordingly!