perhaps by announcing more stimulus. stock investors today were tentative ahead of the meeting. the dow slipped 52 points. the nasdaq lost about 32 and the s&p 500 dipped nearly nine. we start with suzanne pratt looking at what options remain for the fed, and how investors might react to them. reporter: as has been the case frequently this year, all eyes here on wall street, have been looking south about 200 miles, to washington. what traders have been watching is what happens here at the federal reserve. and, this week is no different, more watching and waiting for more stimulus. it is widely anticipated fed policymakers will decide once again to step in and try help the economy. we re expecting another round of quantitative easing, q.e.3., they ll probably buy mainly u.s. treasury securities. at the same time, they ll probably extend the language on when they expect to be hiking rates from 2014 to 2015. but, even if the market gets more assistance from the fed on thursd
s&p 500 dipped nearly nine. we start with suzanne pratt looking at what options remain for the fed, and how investors might react to them. reporter: as has been the case frequently this year, all eyes here on wall street, have been looking south about 200 miles, to washington. what traders have been watching is what happens here at the federal reserve. and, this week is no different, more watching and waiting for more stimulus. it is widely anticipated fed policymakers will decide once again to step in and try help the economy. we re expecting another round of quantitative easing, q.e.3., they ll probably buy mainly u.s. treasury securities. at the same time, they ll probably extend the language on when they expect to be hiking rates from 2014 to 2015. but, even if the market gets more assistance from the fed on thursday, traders say don t expect a big rally in stocks. it is probably factored into the market. but a lot will depend on what form another easing will take.
tentative ahead of the meeting. the dow slipped 52 points. the nasdaq lost about 32 and the s&p 500 dipped nearly nine. we start with suzanne pratt looking at what options remain for the fed, and how investors might react to them. reporter: as has been the case frequently this year, all eyes here on wall street, have been looking south about 200 miles, to washington. what traders have been watching is what happens here at the federal reserve. and, this week is no different, more watching and waiting for more stimulus. it is widely anticipated fed policymakers will decide once again to step in and try help the economy. we re expecting another round of quantitative easing, q.e.3., they ll probably buy mainly u.s. treasury securities. at the same time, they ll probably extend the language on when they expect to be hiking rates from 2014 to 2015. but, even if the market gets more assistance from the fed on thursday, traders say don t expect a big rally in stocks. it is prob
consumer spending in the months ahead. gasoline prices have fallen nearly 50 cents a gallon since they peaked in april. falling gasoline prices will certainly help the u.s. consumer. you couple that with modest improvements in nominal wages and what it points to, quite frankly, is a household standard of living that s improved. reporter: shoppertrak is predicting a strong 4% gain in august back-to-school sales. but there are plenty of skeptics who think sales will be flat or even lower, as parents stick to buying necessities. erika miller, n.b.r., new york. tom: still ahead, doomsday for u.s. i.o.u.s? one of the biggest owners of government bonds warns without a credible, long-term spending plan, interest rates may shoot up in a few years. we talk with vanguard s fixed income chief robert auwaerter. nightly business report is brought to you by: captioning sponsored by wpbt tom: the weak retail results combined with worries about the global economic outlook to take
consumer spending in the months ahead. gasoline prices have fallen nearly 50 cents a gallon since they peaked in april. falling gasoline prices will certainly help the u.s. consumer. you couple that with modest improvements in nominal wages and what it points to, quite frankly, is a household standard of living that s improved. reporter: shoppertrak is predicting a strong 4% gain in august back-to-school sales. but there are plenty of skeptics who think sales will be flat or even lower, as parents stick to buying necessities. erika miller, n.b.r., new york. tom: still ahead, doomsday for u.s. i.o.u.s? one of the biggest owners of government bonds warns without a credible, long-term spending plan, interest rates may shoot up in a few years. we talk with vanguard s fixed income chief robert auwaerter. nightly business report is brought to you by: captioning sponsored by wpbt tom: the weak retail results combined with worries about the global economic outlook to take