Equity markets tread water on Monday as participants brace for a busy week. Both the economic and earnings calendars are filled this week and promise to bring market-moving news. The question is whether the news will move the market firmly in one direction or if volatility will reign supreme. On the earnings front, reports from J.B. Hunt, Netflix, Abbott Laboratories and Proctor & Gamble are at the top of the list and promise to give a deeper view into a broad swath of the economy.

On the economic front, the market is waiting for a host of reports on manufacturing, the housing market and the Index of Leading Indicators. The Index of Leading Indicators is of particular concern because it has been negative for over a year and is expected to accelerate its decline this month. This is a signal of recessionary pressures and one that is getting louder as the months go by.