Stocks end mostly higher ahead of earnings reports

Stocks on Monday finished marginally ahead of the much anticipated first quarter earning reports that will determine whether the United States Economy is actually improving, and if so how much. Early signs have been promising so far as both Wells Fargo and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. both posted very large but unexpected profits. Over the next week quarterly reports from Citigroup and JP Morgan will be released, those two financial companies have been hit the hardest by the recession, but also have helped lead the rally over the last month.One company that continues to struggle is General Motors, who is lining up for a June 1st bankruptcy.
"If you get a couple earnings reports that are better than the worst that people expected then that might help," said Denis Amato, chief investment officer at Ancora Advisors.
If all goes as well as predicted the Stock Market could experience a large rally over the next week, as many of the previously struggling companies post surprising profits after the first quarter. Hopefully, General Motors, with the help of the United States Government, will be able to crawl themselves out of this hole soon.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090414/ap_on_bi_st_ma_re/wall_street;_ylt=AoXH33K1tcS6AzzCbltf3mmyBhIF