- Commentary -

December 7, 2009 (FinancialWire) (By Genevieve Hawkins) — Stocks rose modestly last week but for the rally to have legs shoppers may need to continue buying at Walmart (NYSE: WMT) and Target (NYSE: TGT).

The Dow ended last week 0.8% higher, while the S&P 500 rose 1.3% and the Nasdaq rallied 2.6% on optimism for a US economic recovery. Investors may begin to cash out with the rally so old and yearly gains being locked into place.

For the coming week investors will be eying November retail sales to see if holiday shoppers have been coming out in force. Signs of continued frugality by consumers may sink the market. Other economic data in the quiet week include readings on consumer sentiment and the October trade deficit.

It might be too quiet for a Santa Claus rally. The lack of anything going on could be a good enough reason for investors to cash in their chips.

[Go to http://www.financialwire.net/?s=genevieve+hawkins to see more commentaries by Genevieve Hawkins.]

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