Transportation stocks have outperformed the broader market lately. That’s a good sign as long as freight shippers say the economy is stabilizing.

Source: CNNMoney.com

Date: 4/10/2009

Keys: Stock market, forecasting, marketing

Link: http://money.cnn.com/2009/04/10/markets/thebuzz/index.htm?postversion=2009041012

Questions for discussion:

• To investors in the stock market, earnings are the primary indicators of a firm’s financial wellbeing. The focus is on the banks because their earnings (losses) had fallen so dramatically that many believed they would not be able to recover and continue their business activities once the current recession ended. What other industry-wide reports of earnings would suggest improved economic and therefore, improving stock market activity? Explain.