Tech Stocks Lead Indexes Lower To Start Week of Inflation, GDP Data

What To Expect In Markets This Week

FROM 34 minutes ago

A closely watched retail earnings report and some inflation data will highlight a holiday shortened trading week.

PCE Inflation, Q4 GDP Lead Data Releases

Investors will get another look at December inflation with Friday’s release of the PCE report. Inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index remained unchanged in December, ad the PCE report is closely followed by the Federal Reserve, meaning its pricing data could influence how officials view the path of interest rates. The minutes for the January meeting of the Federal Reserve are also likely to provide insight into officials’ views on the state of the economy.

Investors will get their first look at economic growth measurements for the fourth quarter with the Thursday release of GDP. It comes after the Bureau of Economic Analysis reported strong economic growth in the third quarter, with its final revisions coming in at 4.4%. 

New home sales and housing starts data for both November and December are scheduled for release this week, and pending home sales for January will provide a forward-looking indicator for the housing market. Two reports on U.S. international trade are also due this week, while durable-goods orders for December can offer insight into the health of the manufacturing sector. 

Walmart Earnings First Under New CEO; 13F Watch Starts

Walmart is set to issue its first earnings report under new CEO John Furner. The retailer recently hit $1 trillion in market capitalization, making it the first big box store to reach that size. In its last report, Walmart posted a 4.2% increase in comparable sales and raised its full-year sales forecast.

Meanwhile, the quarterly 13F fillings that detail the holdings and transactions of Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A, BRK.B) and other big investors are expected to start showing up this week, illustrating fourth-quarter portfolio changes. Big moves by Berkshire would be considered some of the last under Warren Buffett.

Get the week’s full calendar of corporate and economic events here.

-Terry Lane

Stock Futures Slip as Tech Stocks Continue To Slump

FROM 1 hr 25 min ago

Futures contracts connected to the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down 0.2% in premarket trading on Tuesday.

S&P 500 futures slid 0.4%.

Nasdaq 100 futures were off nearly 0.9%.