Jobs data, earnings latest test for stocks (Reuters)

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks are unlikely to break above a key technical level next week unless monthly jobs data and consumer company results paint a more promising picture of the recovery.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. stocks are unlikely to break above a key technical level this week unless monthly jobs data and consumer company results paint a more promising picture of the recovery.

U.S. stocks could do well this week if monthly jobs data, due out Friday, and corporate results paint a more promising picture of the recovery.

World stocks rose Thursday after strong manufacturing data encouraged hopes that the global recovery from recession is gaining traction -- a day ahead of key U.S. jobs data that could set the tone in the markets once many investors return next week from the Easter break.

World stocks rose Thursday after strong manufacturing data encouraged hopes that the global recovery from recession is gaining traction -- a day ahead of key U.S. jobs data that could set the tone in the markets once many investors return next week from the Easter break.

World stocks rose Thursday after strong manufacturing data encouraged hopes that the global recovery from recession is gaining traction -- a day ahead of key U.S. jobs data that could set the tone in the markets once many investors return next week from the Easter break.

After a rough start to earnings season, US stocks face a tidal wave of corporate results next week amid growing worries the US economic recovery is slowing.Stocks fell off a cliff Friday after a sagging consumer confidence index and mixed earnings spooked investors."What was looking like a nice week turned into a huge sell-off," said Ryan Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer's Investment Research.Detrick noted that the unfortunate combination of disappointing earnings and troublesome economic data "was all it took for the bears to take control."