The current performance of the U.S. economy and evidence is likely to grow more than previously expected infused confidence in investors. They were also cheered by the strongest job growth in nine months and the drop in unemployment rate to 8.3 percent. There was a gain of 1.2 percent in the Dow Jones industrial average on Friday and Asian stocks also gained on Monday.

 

However, concerns regarding demand remaining weak this year in developed countries, especially those in Europe, were a dampening factor on investors, who will get pertinent information regarding the strength of the U.S. economy and other global economies from a number of earnings reports that are expected this week. Natural gas dropped 3.1 cents to $2.47 per 1,000 cubic feet, though heating oil held its ground at $3.12 per gallon. Gasoline futures dropped 0.4 percent to $2.91 per gallon.