U.S. consumer markets is difficult to get rid of weak subprime mortgage quagmire.

<P> U.S. stocks ended lower on Friday by American Express cardholders cut spending, arrears bills and McDonald's sales may weaken in the news, because these two phenomena driven mainly by consumption of both the U.S. economy .ominously. .In addition, although come forward to the acquisition of Bank of America Country wide Financial, Merrill Lynch will be included but expected more write-downs that financial institutions are far from being out of the subprime mortgage quagmire. .Index is expected to be difficult this week, the expected mud out of recession. .</ P> <P> U.S. earnings reports this week will go into a super week, the aftermath of the sub-prime mortgages have not yet sorted out, is expected to be negative than positive messages. .But economic worries making investors expect the Federal Reserve Board (Fed) will take further action in the Jan. 30 policy meeting, the possible resolution at least 0.5 percentage point interest rate cut. .</ P> <P>: http://finance. American Express said on Thursday night, as consumer spending slowed, and credit card debt, is expected to decline in 2008 earnings. .Its shares fell 11.7%. .This is the second day of a credit card issuer, said the subprime mortgage market problems have spread to other markets. .</ P> <P> Capital One Financial (COF-US) also warned that cases of delayed payments due to increased lending, and the fourth quarter to increase the cash reserve, expected 2007 earnings will be lower than originally forecast. .</ P> <P> Merrill Lynch this week announced quarterly. ."The New York Times" pointed out that because of bad mortgage loans, the company may have to write down assets of $ 15,000,000,000. .Analysts expect the large financial institutions to write down assets of $ 12,000,000,000. .Merrill Lynch is seeking financing of 4.0 billion. .But its shares rose modestly. .</ P> <P> addition to Merrill Lynch, the other four large banks will also be published quarterly, including the United States. .Because of the credit market and mortgage market crisis, the expected poor quarterly. .</ P> <P> Bank of America said Friday that the stock will be $ 4,000,000,000, mergers and acquisitions Countrywide Financial (CFC-US). .Downturn in the housing market, mortgage lender Countrywide has been hit hard. .Thursday, as rumors of the acquisition, Countrywide shares rose more than 50%, on Friday fell 15%. .</ P> <P> addition McDonald's has dropped $ 3.85, to $ 54.32, down 6.6%. .Independent research firm Mark Kalinowski of the sample survey, its franchise store sales growth of fatigue, which is six years of the history of the survey findings of the worst. .Friedman Billings & Ramsey in the company's sales growth reservations about how long. .</ P> <P> Barnes & Noble fell $ 0.15, to $ 27.76. .Prior to this book store chain lowered its fourth-quarter earnings expectations, citing weak music sales. .</ P> <P> diamonds may be forever, but sales growth has not. .Tiffany & Co. Fell $ 4.52, to $ 35.80, down 11%. .Prior to the jewelry vendors, said during a two-month holiday same-store sales decline of the United States. .Some strategists had hoped that the shop for the strong performance of high-end consumer may be able to make up for the bleak performance of the low-end consumer sites. .Goldman Sachs (Goldman Sachs) warned, Tiffany's results reflect the high-end market, exacerbating the problem. .</ P>.