Following the disappointment of Wal-Mart's earnings and sales announcements this morning, other news has helped to put a floor -- at least temporarily -- under the stock index futures. Target reported that their sales slumped only half of the expected amount.Additionally, the U.S. government reported that new jobless claims were less than expected. However, this data is somewhat suspect, because yesterday, the government also reported that the telephone lines (for people to call in their new jobless claims) crashed because they were so overwhelmed from people calling in to place new unemployment claims. This can only be a very negative sign.
