The Stock Market May Rise or Fall Sharply This Week Based on Key Reports From Amazon, Apple, Meta Platforms, and Microsoft
The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has declined 10% from its high as tariffs imposed by the Trump administration have rattled financial markets. Investors will receive important data this week that could either alleviate or intensify concerns surrounding the trade war.
The Labor Department will release jobs, payroll, and unemployment numbers, and the Commerce Department will announce first-quarter GDP and consumer spending data for March. Also, four big technology companies will report financial results: Meta Platforms (NASDAQ: META) , Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) , Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) , and Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) .
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Here's what investors should know about those events.
Jobs numbers and GDP data will provide insight into the strength of the economy
The Labor Department will release its jobs report for March after the market opens on Tuesday, April 29. And it will release its employment situation report for April, including non-farm payrolls and unemployment data, before the market opens on Friday, May 1.
The Commerce Department will announce first-quarter gross domestic product (GDP) before the market opens on Wednesday, April 30. And it will publish consumer spending data for March shortly after the market opens on the same day.
The reports above have knock-on effects with the Federal Reserve. The market anticipates four quarter-point interest rate cuts in the remaining months of the year. But signs of economic strength, while ostensibly good, could lead to fewer interest rate cuts. The market would probably find that disappointing, meaning stocks could fall in response to weak or overly strong economic data.
Big tech financial results will provide insight into how companies are coping with tariffs
Four big tech companies are scheduled to announce financial results this week. Reports from Meta Platforms and Microsoft will be available after the market closes on Wednesday, April 30. And reports from Amazon and Apple will be available after the market closes on Thursday, May 1.
For every company, readers should note whether management provides guidance. Any lack of visibility would suggest that shifting U.S. trade policies have hurt business leaders' ability to predict demand and make capital allocation decisions, which could make investors nervous. That anxiety could easily turn into a sell-off across the broader market because those four companies account for 19% of the S&P 500.
Alternatively, strong financial results and encouraging commentary from management concerning the trade war could easily spark a stock market rally.
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