Fed Meeting, Tariffs Deadline, July Jobs Report

The Fed’s interest-rate decision, July jobs numbers, a key tariffs deadline, fresh inflation data, and earnings from big tech companies highlight a packed economic and corporate calendar this week.

Investors will be watching for more trade deals ahead of the Friday deadline for tariffs regarding several leading U.S. trading partners. And while the Federal Reserve isn’t expected to adjust interest rates on Wednesday, updates due this week on U.S. employment and inflation levels could signal the likelihood of rate cuts at future Fed meetings. 

Several major corporate earnings reports are scheduled to come out this week, including results from Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Apple and Amazon. Key finance, health care, and cryptocurrency firms are also on this week’s calendar. 

Stocks finished last week strong, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite ending Friday at record highs.

Read to the bottom for our calendar of key events—and one more thing.

Investors Focus on the Fed, Tariffs Deadline, Jobs Report, Inflation Data

The Aug. 1 tariffs deadline set by President Donald Trump approaches as negotiations continue with several major U.S. trading partners, including the European Union, Canada, and Mexico. All could face tariffs of 30% or more unless trade agreements are reached. U.S. officials will also be negotiating with China ahead of an Aug. 12 deadline that is likely to be extended.

Trump has continued to put pressure on the Federal Reserve ahead of its next interest-rate decision on Wednesday. The central bank is widely expected to hold rates at their current levels. On Thursday, the personal consumption expenditures index will show whether inflation in June continued to hover above the Fed’s target. And Friday’s employment report will be released; the Fed has cited a strong job market as a key factor behind keeping rates elevated.

Market watchers will get a first look at gross domestic product for the second quarter after the economy contracted slightly in the first three months of the year.

Earnings Due From Magnificent 7, Financial, and Crypto Companies—and More

More than half the “Magnificent Seven” is on this week’s earnings calendar, while key companies in the health care, automobile, financial, and cryptocurrency sectors are also scheduled to report. 

Meta Platforms (META) is set to report on Wednesday. The Facebook parent has said it plans to boost its spending on artificial intelligence development. Microsoft’s (MSFT) expected financial update on the same day comes amid analyst optimism over that tech giant’s AI potential. Meanwhile, analysts are watching Apple’s (AAPL) update on Thursday for insight into whether the iPhone maker is catching up to its peers on AI development. Amazon’s (AMZN) expected report follows its Prime Day event in July. 

Earnings scheduled from Mastercard (MA) and Visa (V) could provide insight into consumer spending trends. Reports on tap from Procter & Gamble (PG), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), and Starbucks (SBUX) could also provide broader economic insights.

Several key health care companies are scheduled to report earnings, including UnitedHealth Group (UNH), AstraZeneca (AZN), Merck (MRK), AbbVie (ABBV), and Bristol Myers Squibb (BMY). Reports from Strategy (MSTR) and Coinbase Global (COIN) slated for Thursday come after bitcoin in early July hit its first record high since May. Ford’s (F) report on Wednesday comes as automakers face pressure from tariffs. 

Quick Links: Recap Last Week’s Trading | Latest Markets News

This Week’s Calendar

Monday, July 28

• Key Earnings: Welltower (WELL), Waste Management (WM), Cadence Design Systems (CDNS)

Tuesday, July 29

• U.S. trade balance (June)
• Key Earnings: Visa, Procter & Gamble, UnitedHealth Group (UNH), AstraZeneca, Merck, Booking Holdings (BKNG), Boeing (BA), Spotify Technology (SPOT), Starbucks, Royal Caribbean Group (RCL), United Parcel Service (UPS)
• Data to Watch: Retail inventories (June), wholesale inventories (June), S&P Case-Shiller home price index (May), consumer confidence (July), job openings (June)

Wednesday, July 30

• FOMC interest-rate decision
• Fed Chair Jerome Powell press conference
• Key Earnings: Microsoft, Meta Platforms, HSBC Holdings (HSBC), Qualcomm (QCOM), Arm Holdings (ARM), Robinhood Markets (HOOD), Carvana (CVNA), Allstate (ALL), Ford
• More Data to Watch: ADP employment (July), gross domestic product (Q2), pending home sales (June)

Thursday, July 31

• Personal consumption expenditures (PCE) (June)
• Key Earnings: Apple, Amazon, Mastercard, AbbVie, Comcast (CMCSA), Ferrari (RACE), Strategy, Coinbase, Bristol Myers Squibb, CVS Health (CVS)
• More Data to Watch: Employment cost index (Q2), initial jobless claims (Week ending July 26), Chicago Business Barometer (July)

Friday, Aug. 1

• Tariff deadline for Canada, Mexico, the European Union, and other trading partners
• U.S. employment report (July)
• Key Earnings: ExxonMobil (XOM), Chevron (CVX), Colgate-Palmolive
• More Data to Watch: Consumer sentiment – final (July), construction spending (June), ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Index (July), S&P Manufacturing PMI (July)

One More Thing

Worried about your retirement? A new report showed that retirees in several states risk outliving their retirement savings. Investopedia’s Jordyn Bradley has more on that set of states here.