No 'smoking gun' expected in Friday's key data

Date: Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:06:06 (GMT)

No 'smoking gun' expected in Friday's key data

WASHINGTON
Two of the most important monthly indicators of the economy's health to
be released Friday are expected to show the economy is weak but neither
is expected to provide the "smoking gun" that proves the economy is in
recession, economists said.

Market Snapshot: U.S. stocks end session ahead, but down for the month

U.S. stocks close higher, but still end January with substantial losses,
as a shaky market swings down on MBIA Inc.'s losses only to reverse
higher when the bond insurer said it did not believe its triple-A rating
was in jeopardy.

Google posts 17% profit gain, but shares slide lower

Google Inc. reports its fiscal fourth-quarter profit rose 17%, but
results fall short of Wall Street analysts' expectations.

More Super Bowl sponsors face risk as the economy falters

More sponsors of big game's broadcast face a bigger risk this year as
the economy falters.

Home Depot to lower 10% of headquarters staff

NEW YORK
Home Depot Inc., the largest U.S. home improvement retailer, plans to
cut 10% of its headquarters staff to lower costs and weather a slowing
housing market that has hurt its sales.