Week Ahead: Retail Earnings, FOMC Minutes, Housing Data in Focus

Markets last week logged new all-time highs despite diminished hopes for peace prospects in the U.S.-Iran war pushed crude oil higher.

This week, investors will get further insights into the health of the American consumer with inflation and housing economic data, as well as earnings from across the retail sector.

Here are three things to watch this week:

Housing & Industrial Ecodata: Economic information is heavy on housing data, with the NAHB Housing Market Index, Building Permits, Housing Starts, Pending Home Sales, and MBA Mortgage Applications. Manufacturing also is in the spotlight with the Empire State Manufacturing Index from the New York Fed, Industrial Production, Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index, and the S&P Global Composite PMI Flash. Wednesday also brings FOMC Minutes, which could clarify members’ opinions about the direction of interest rates.

Earnings Themes: Retail is the major earnings sector this week. The twin giants of home improvement, Home Depot (HD) and Lowe’s (LOW), report quarterly results, as will Walmart (WMT), Target (TGT), The TJX Companies (TJX), and Ross Stores (ROST). Notable tech earnings include Analog Devices (ADI), Keysight Technologies (KEYS), and Fabrinet (FN).

AI Tech Summit: The Rosenblatt 6th Annual Tech Summit Monday and Tuesday is themed “The Age of AI – The Mother of All Cycles.” Speakers include representatives from AMD (AMD), Cisco (CSCO), Arista Networks (ANET), Lumentum (LITE), Fortinet (FTNT), and more.

Economic Calendar (ET), Week of August 17:

Monday, Aug. 17

• 08:30 AM: NY Empire State Manufacturing Index
• 10:00 AM: NAHB Housing Market Index

Tuesday, Aug. 18

• 08:30 AM: Housing Starts and Permits
• 09:15 AM: Industrial Production
• 10:00 AM: Pending Home Sales

Wednesday, Aug. 19

• 07:00 AM: MBA Mortgage Applications
• 10:00 AM: Atlanta Fed Business Expectations
• 02:00 PM: FOMC Minutes

Thursday, Aug. 20

• 08:30 AM: Jobless Claims
• 08:30 AM: Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index
• 10:00 AM: Leading Economic Indicators
• 04:30 PM: Fed Balance Sheet

Friday, Aug. 21

• 09:45 AM: S&P Global Composite PMI Flash

EARNINGS

Monday, Aug. 17

• Premarket: n/a
• Postmarket: Fabrinet (FN)

Tuesday, Aug. 18

• Premarket: Home Depot (HD), Baidu (BIDU)
• Postmarket: Keysight Technologies (KEYS), Toll Brothers (TOL)

Wednesday, Aug. 19

• Premarket: Analog Devices (ADI), The TJX Companies (TJX), Lowe’s (LOW), Target (TGT), Viking Holdings (VIK), Estee Lauder (EL)
• Postmarket: Nordson (NDSN), Wolfspeed (WOLF)

Thursday, Aug. 20

• Premarket: Walmart (WMT), Alibaba (BABA), Deere & Company (DE), Advance Auto Parts (AAP)
• Postmarket: Ross Stores (ROST)

Friday, Aug. 21

• Premarket: BJ’s Wholesale Club (BJ)
• Postmarket: n/a

This material is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered a personalized recommendation or investment advice. Investors should review investment strategies for their own particular situations before making any decisions.

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Data contained herein is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed. All events and times listed are subject to change without notice.