Stocks near flat as investors seek direction in a lackluster session.
But it's just playing the earnings game. If the holiday season comes in as expected, the shipper will be fine.
Homebuilder optimism hits a 6-year high, and the US current account trade deficit narrows more than expected. FedEx cuts its full-year outlook. China's territorial dispute with Japan escalates. Apple trades above $700.
There are times when individual companies provide critical clues about the big picture
Investors also await a key German court ruling Wednesday. Moody's warns it could lower its rating on the US. The US trade deficit widens. McDonald's comp sales miss expectations.
Stocks are higher as investors anxiously await the European Central Bank meeting Thursday and the Fed's meeting next week.
The shipper will likely rebound later in the year if consumer confidence continues to rise.
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