Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Investors will try to tack another leg on to the year-long U.S. stock rally, looking to this week's economic data and statement from the central bank for evidence the recovery is still on track.

-

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private-sector economists see the economy growing more quickly than previously forecast in the first three quarters of 2010, but growth would be slower than expected toward the end of the year, a Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia survey said on Friday.

Financial stocks led a sell off on Thursday after President Obama proposed new regulations to limit the size of banks, as well as the scope of their ability to take on risk. . Today on Stockhouse

Sometimes good news can be bad news for commodities . Equities around the world have come under pressure today, with a number of key support levels being tested or broken. Equities had rallied through most of 2009 and into the current earnings season. It now appears, howeve,r that while sentiment continues to improve toward some lagging areas such as U.S. banks, overall, it appears that the bulls may have become exhausted leaving the bears to regain the upper hand for now.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Factory activity slowed more than expected in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region in January, paring expectations of manufacturing's role in helping a U.S. economic recovery, a survey showed on Thursday.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve will have to raise interest rates as the economy improves or risk losing the public's confidence in its commitment to keeping inflation low and stable, a top Federal Reserve policy maker said on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Factory activity in the U.S. mid-Atlantic region hit a 4-1/2 year high in December and a gauge of future economic conditions rose last month, adding to evidence of a pick-up in the pace of the economy's recovery.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of U.S. workers filing new applications for jobless insurance unexpectedly rose last week, but a gauge of future economic activity increased for the eighth month in a row, pointing to a slow economic recovery where employment looms as the dominant concern.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Factory activity accelerated rapidly in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region in December, a survey showed on Thursday, hitting its highest in 4-1/2 years and assuaging some worries the industrial recovery is slowing.

ROCHESTER, New York (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve must be prepared to raise interest rates if needed before the jobless rate has fallen to an "acceptable level", or risk losing its inflation-fighting credibility, a senior Fed official said on Tuesday.

ROCHESTER, New York (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve must be prepared to raise interest rates if necessary before the jobless rate has fallen to "acceptable levels", or risk losing its inflation-fighting credibility, a senior Fed official said on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Federal Reserve officials are increasingly confident the U.S. economic recovery will be durable, but do not see employment or inflation picking up soon, minutes from their November meeting showed.

WASHINGTON/PARIS (Reuters) - Senior U.S. Federal Reserve officials said on Thursday inflation is not an immediate threat as a weak economic recovery and a grim outlook for jobs keep price pressures in check.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Manufacturing activity in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic region hit a two-year high in November, indicating the economic recovery was gaining momentum, while the trend in claims for jobless aid continued downward.

What is copper and crude telling us? . Equity markets have been retreating today, suggesting that a near-term trading correction may be underway. Economic data today was mixed with positive numbers, such as UK retail sales (3.4% over year vs. Street 2.9%) and Philadelphia Fed (16.7 vs. Street 12.2) being ignored as investors focused on weaker numbers such as U.S. mortgage delinquencies (9.6% vs. previous 9.2%) and U.S. leading indicator (0.3% vs. Street 0.4%). Considering that the U.S. numbers are all generally considered to be second-tier data, this response suggests that a number of investors may have been looking for a reason to lock in profits after recent market advances.

Investors varying view on the economic recovery is pushing market into more volatile period. There's a tug of war in the financial markets between investors who believe the economy is on its way to a strong recovery and those who believe a rebound is likely to be slow and bumpy.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - After an $81 billion refunding this week, the U.S. government securities market turns its attention in the coming week to the state of the economy and what that portends for Federal Reserve monetary policy.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The U.S. economy has improved, but a number of risks to growth remain and there is no near-term inflation threat, a top Fed official said on Thursday.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top Federal Reserve official said on Tuesday the U.S. central bank needs stricter policies dictating when it should step in with bailouts, saying such measures would have reduced confusion during last year's financial crisis.