Stock market investors on Wall Street are gearing up for a busy week ahead, with a focus on key economic data and quarterly earnings reports from major companies. The US economic data, including retail sales and industrial production, will be closely watched to gauge the health of the economy. Additionally, investors will be keeping a close eye on quarterly earnings reports from companies such as Netflix, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Bank of America, and Abbott Laboratories.
In the midst of all this, geopolitical tensions in the Middle East are escalating after Iran’s recent attack on Israel. The Israeli military has vowed to defend itself, raising concerns among investors about the potential impact on global markets.
The week ahead will see a flurry of economic events, starting with the release of US retail sales data for March on Monday. This will be followed by the Empire State manufacturing survey and home builder confidence index report. On Tuesday, the industrial production data for March and housing starts data will be announced, along with a speech by US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. Later in the week, existing home sales data for March will be released on Thursday.
On the earnings front, a number of major companies are set to report their quarterly earnings, including Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, Netflix, Johnson & Johnson, and American Express, among others. These earnings reports will provide insight into the financial health of these companies and the broader market.
Last week, US stocks experienced a downturn, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq Composite all posting losses. The market was rattled by mixed earnings reports and concerns about escalating tensions in the Middle East. Despite this, the US dollar weakened slightly against the yen and euro, while the yield on the 10-year Treasury fell. Oil prices saw a slight increase, with both benchmark US crude and Brent crude rising, while gold and silver prices also saw gains.
Overall, the week ahead promises to be an eventful one for stock market investors, with a mix of economic data, earnings reports, and geopolitical developments shaping market sentiment. Stay tuned for updates on how these factors impact Wall Street in the coming days.