US stocks end week on flat note

US stocks finished more or less flat last week as fears about central bank policy and economic growth offset earnings that were generally better than expected.

This week could see a pause in the stock market's rally if earnings from insurers and smaller industrial companies are too weak or the July jobs report is too strong. If reports are unspectacular, however, the upward momentum will likely sustain itself.

The US economy eked out a slight 1.2 per cent growth rate in the second quarter. Economists attributed the trouble to corporations neglecting to spend capital on buildings and equipment again. That could bode ill for earnings reports this week from industrial bellwether Cummins and others.