After Record Highs Last Week, Stocks Are Mixed Ahead Of Big Bank Earnings

After Record Highs Last Week, Stocks Are Mixed Ahead Of Big Bank Earnings

(Monday Market Open) The market is looking a bit like the next generation space race we're seeing. In a similar fashion to Virgin Galactic's (SPCE) first fully-crewed flight to the edge of space on Sunday, the market has headed toward the stars with a record finish last week. But trading sentiment seems to be a little more down to earth as we start this week. Perhaps the market is catching its breath ahead of major bank earnings that kick earnings season into high gear later this week. The banks can often set the tone for earnings season, and the releases from these big banks serve as an interesting"”and often illuminating"”glimpse of the state of commerce in the United States and across the world. The housing market, consumer credit, mergers & acquisitions, investment banking and trading, global payment systems"”these are but a few of the areas in which the nation's largest financial institutions play a key role. So when they report earnings and host their quarterly conference calls, analysts and investors typically read and listen closely. The Financials sector helped the market end last week on a high note, with all three of the main U. S. indices closing at record