Jobless claims report
The unemployment claims report compiled weekly will release the number of individuals who filed for unemployment insurance for the first time for the week ending July 11. Initial jobless claims in the July 4 week fell a very steep 52,000 to 565,000 -- the lowest level since the beginning of the year.

JPMorgan Results
JPMorgan Chase & Co. released its earnings report for the second quarter today, reporting profit of 28 cents per share for the quarter, or $2.72 billion. Net revenue rose to $27.71 billion. The results beat analysts average expectations of 4 cents per share on revenue of $25.91 billion, according to Reuters Estimates.

Paulson speaks on Capitol Hill
Former Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson will today testify on Capitol Hill to discuss his role in persuading Bank of America's Kenneth Lewis in the Merrill Lynch deal. Bank of America CEO maintains federal officials pressured him to keep the Merrill deal alive and acknowledged that his job would be at risk if he did not do so. Paulson on Wednesday defended his actions saying that his actions spared the U.S. financial market from total collapse. Many more Americans would be without their homes, their jobs, their businesses, their savings and their way of life, he said in written testimony prepared for a hearing Thursday.

IBM to report 2Q results

IBM Corp. is scheduled to report its second-quarter results after the closing bell on Thursday. Below is a summary of key developments and analyst opinion related to the period. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect IBM to earn $2.02 per share on $23.59 billion in sales. In the same quarter last year, IBM had profit of $1.97 per share and revenue of $26.82 billion.

Google to report 2Q results

Google reports earnings Thursday after the closing bell. Analysts expect $5.06 a share in profit, up from $4.63 last year.

Baxter International
Health products maker Baxter International (BAX) Inc reports its second quarter results on Thursday. The firm expects adjusted earnings per share of 93 cents to 95 cents in the quarter and expects a low single digits decline in revenue from last year's $3.19 billion. analysts on average expect earnings of 94 cents per share with sales of $3.12 billion, according to Thomson Street Events.

Fed Balance sheet report to be released
Fed's balance sheet report will be released today, indicating factors that supply reserves into the banking system and those that absorb reserve funds. Markets focus on weekly changes for factors supplying reserves with the key measure being Reserve Bank credit. Changes in Reserve Bank credit give a broad picture of reserve injections. The report is generally released Thursdays at 4:30 p.m.

Harley Davidson
Harley Davidson Inc (HOG) is expected to report second quarter earnings today. It is expected that the motorcycle maker will report earnings per share of 24 cents, compared with 95 cents per share a year ago.The firm has missed analysts' expectations for three consecutive quarters.

Marriott International
Marriott International(MAR) reports second quarter results on Thursday with analysts expecting the hotel operator to earn 21 cents per share for the quarter on revenue of $2.52 billion, according to a poll by Thomson Reuters.

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