The day ahead: Friday
Consumer spending and income data will be closely watched, along with a gauge of consumer sentiment, Tiffany results, and reaction to Apple’s new operating system.
* July personal income and spending data will provide more clues on the likely durability of any economic recovery. Personal income probably rose 0.2 percent compared with a year earlier after a drop of 1.3 percent the previous month, according to Reuters polling.
* All eyes in the retail world will be on high-end jeweler Tiffany & Co to see where the company stands with sales and its outlook for the upcoming holiday season, a critical selling period for jewelers.
* Apple’s new operating system for Mac computers will go on sale, a bit earlier than expected, as the company looks to continue to expand its share of the PC market.
* The final reading of the Reuters/University of Michigan consumer sentiment index, which is expected to come in at 64.5, will be down from 66 in July but up from the soft preliminary reading of 63.2.
