Strong earnings a threat to rate cut expectations

CALL it the reverse silver lining: earnings and economic data are coming in a little too strong for stock-market bulls hoping for drastic action from the US Federal Reserve this week.

Stocks could even sell off after a widely expected Fed cut on Wednesday as spoilt investors wonder: "Is that all?"

US stocks rose last week, with major indexes hitting record highs after strong housing and gross domestic product data and better-than-forecast earnings from Google, McDonald's and others.