(by Dr. Goldfinger)

The U.S. leading banks show quite different views on the country’s Economic expansion. Sometimes views can be just opposite.

Bear, Stearns & Co. chief investment strategist Francois Trahan says the U.S. stock market will be dependant on profit growth. His colleague David Malpass states the U.S. economy to grow faster.

``Leading indicators of the economy will likely continue to lose momentum for the remainder of the year into 2005. It will be difficult to see how the stock market could stage a sustainable rebound in the next six to nine months, ’’ said Mr. Trahan.

Morgan Stanley leading economists also have different options as company’s chief global economist Stephen Roach states the growth is falling short of the average recovery and Richard Berner, chief U.S. economist, says the slowdown is temporary.

The S&P 500 jumped to 1157.76 in February amid a peak in corporate earnings growth.