“It remains rational to expect [job] gains of over 200,000 per month in the upcoming months, ... The longer it takes to reach that point the more likely it is that forecasters will continue to skedaddle and lower their forecasts still further.”
Anthony Crescenzi
“I do think we're still going to experience higher incentives in upcoming months, especially as the 2003 model year comes to a close. Inventories are pretty high at this point. Even with strong incentives, there's a few too many vehicles in the market for the number of consumers buying.”
David Lucas
“We think that the picture is likely to brighten for airline stocks in the upcoming months.”
Susan Donofrio
“I think that the smaller banks are probably going to have more difficulties in the upcoming six-to-12 months simply because they have relied on loan growth to drive EPS growth to meet consensus expectations. And loan growth is not where you want to be. Bread-and-butter banking is not that great of a business. And you're also the ends in terms of margin pressure. The Fed has raised rates 175 basis points, which usually translates into a much more difficult margin environment. And I think that that is going to hurt the bank below the top 15 in market cap for the near term. I would say the larger-cap banks, once they get over the capital markets issues they're experiencing over the second quarter, should see a little bit more strength.”
Andy Collins
“I think that the smaller banks are probably going to have more difficulties in the upcoming six-to-12 months simply because they have relied on loan growth to drive EPS growth to meet consensus expectations. And loan growth is not where you want to be. Bread-and-butter banking is not that great of a business. And you're also the ends in terms of margin pressure. The Fed has raised rates 175 basis points, which usually translates into a much more difficult margin environment. And I think that that is going to hurt the bank below the top 15 in market cap for the near term, ... I would say the larger-cap banks, once they get over the capital markets issues they're experiencing over the second quarter, should see a little bit more strength.”
“[Market players said they expected conditions to remain favorable on Wall Street through the upcoming corporate earnings season. Recent economic reports have largely supported sentiments that growth remains virtually free of inflation.] Short-term interest rates should come down. Long-term interest rates should come down, ... There are no signs of inflation.”
Tony Dwyer
“Sadly, the President's budget proposal for the upcoming year once again puts cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans over addressing our country's severe fiscal problems.”
Carl Levin
