Wall Street is gearing up for a hectic week filled with key economic reports and the start of the fourth‑quarter earnings season.
Key Economic Data Coming Up
- Dec 13: Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December and NFIB optimism index.
- Dec 13: New home sales data for October.
- Dec 13: US budget deficit for December.
- Dec 14: Retail sales for November (delayed), Producer Price Index (PPI) for November (delayed), business inventories for October, existing home sales for December, and the Fed’s Beige Book.
- Dec 15: Initial jobless claims, Empire State manufacturing survey, and Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey.
- Dec 16: Industrial production and capacity utilization for December.
Major Bank Earnings This Week
- JPMorgan Chase
- Bank of America
- Wells Fargo
- Citigroup
- Goldman Sachs
- Morgan Stanley
- Delta Air Lines
- Taiwan Semiconductor
- BlackRock
- PNC Financial
Last Week’s Market Moves
The main US indices closed at record highs on Friday after a weak jobs report raised hopes that the Federal Reserve may hold off on another rate cut.
- S&P 500: +0.6% to 6,966.28 (up 1.6% for the week).
- Dow Jones: +0.5% to 49,504.07 (up 2.3% for the week).
- Nasdaq Composite: +0.8% to 23,671.35 (up 1.9% for the week).
- Russell 2000: +0.8% to 2,624.22.
In bonds, the 10‑year Treasury yield slipped to 4.16% while the 2‑year rose to 3.53%.
What Retail Investors Should Keep in Mind
Stable inflation numbers and a still‑tight labor market suggest the Fed may keep rates steady for now, which could keep equity markets on an upward path. Watching the CPI and bank earnings will be crucial; stronger earnings can boost sentiment, while any surprise in inflation could sway Fed expectations.
Remember, this is perspective, not a prediction. Do your own research before making any investment decisions.