From Reuters.com
The day ahead: Friday
JC Penney reports quarterly results, with investors primed for the department store operator to beat estimates as its rivals Macy’s and Kohl’s did earlier in the week.
Other highlights:
* Barack Obama makes his first trip to Asia as president, leaving behind a host of domestic problems on a visit that recognizes the region’s economic and diplomatic importance to the United States.
* Google and a group representing authors and publishers face a Friday Department of Justice-set deadline to submit a revised agreement over modifications to a controversial electronic books licensing deal.
* Initial public offerings from Dollar General, a leading discount chain owned by KKR, and rue21, a fast growth youth apparel chain owned by Apax Partners, begin trading on the NYSE.
The Day Ahead: Thursday
Sales results will pour in from a wide range of chain retailers, while investors who bought media shares on hopes for an ad comeback will look to CBS for guidance.
*Chain stores ranging from J.C. Penney to Target to Gap report their October monthly sales results.
