PANews, April 26th - Investors closely watched developments in the Middle East over the past week. Frequent news events, the failure of the highly anticipated meeting between US and Iranian representatives, and multiple statements from US President Trump caused market risk appetite to fluctuate. Notably, major US stock indices still managed to reach new record highs. However, the market is not entirely bullish, as conflict could reignite at any time. Here are the key points the market will focus on in the coming week:
At 22:30 on Monday, the Dallas Fed Business Activity Index for April will be released.
At 20:15 on Tuesday, the ADP employment change for the week ending April 11 in the United States will be released.
At 22:00 on Tuesday, the US Conference Board Consumer Confidence Index for April and the US Richmond Fed Manufacturing Index for April will be released.
At 04:30 on Wednesday, the API crude oil inventory data for the week ending April 24 will be released.
At 22:30 on Wednesday, the EIA crude oil inventories for the week ending April 24, the EIA crude oil inventories at Cushing, Oklahoma for the week ending April 24, and the EIA strategic petroleum reserve inventories for the week ending April 24 will be released.
The Federal Reserve FOMC will announce its interest rate decision at 02:00 on Thursday.
At 02:30 on Thursday, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell will hold a press conference on monetary policy.
At 20:30 on Thursday, the following data will be released: US initial jobless claims for the week ending April 26, US March PCE price index, US March personal spending month-on-month rate, US Q1 labor cost index quarter-on-quarter rate, US Q1 real GDP annualized quarter-on-quarter rate (preliminary), US Q1 real personal consumption expenditure quarter-on-quarter rate (preliminary), and US Q1 core PCE price index annualized quarter-on-quarter rate (preliminary).
At 21:45 on Friday, the final reading of the US S&P Global Manufacturing PMI for April will be released.
Some market observers believe that Powell's press conference next Thursday will not only be his last, but may also be the last regular Q&A session between the Fed's top official and reporters.
