Today is the busiest session of data releases until the Federal Reserve's interest-rate announcement next week.
Monthly retail sales and weekly jobless claims are both scheduled for 8:30 a.m. ET. Economists estimate that November retail sales increased 0.6 percent overall and 0.3 percent excluding automobiles. That compares with gains of 0.4 percent and 0.2 percent respectively in October.
Initial jobless claims are expected to increase to 325,000 from 298,000 last week. Lower claims readings and higher retail-sales numbers would reflect a strong economy, potentially raising concerns that the Federal Reserve will slow bond purchases at its meeting on Wednesday.
Export and import prices come out at the same time but are unlikely to impact sentiment. European industrial production will also be released early in the session.
In addition to the economic news, Ciena, Hovnanian, and Lululemon Athletica report earnings before the opening bell. Adobe Systems follows in the afternoon.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.