Investors braced themselves for a busy week ahead as US stocks gained ground on Monday, building upon last week’s solid performance. This positive sentiment comes as major companies like Amazon and Apple are set to report their first-quarter earnings, with over 170 S&P 500 companies expected to release their results.
Heading into Monday’s trades, equity indexes were trending higher, setting a positive tone for the week ahead. With valuations near the upper end of their 20-year range, investors will be eagerly awaiting key earnings reports from these companies to drive the market higher.
In addition to earnings reports, investors will also be keeping an eye on important economic data this week, including the Fed meeting and the jobs report. The Federal Reserve’s FOMC meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, with investors looking for insights into the economic outlook and future policy decisions. On Friday, the April jobs report is expected to be released, with economists forecasting a gain of 250,000 jobs following a strong showing in March.
Amid these developments, commodities like West Texas Intermediate crude oil and Brent crude saw slight declines on Monday morning, while gold prices dipped slightly as well. The 10-year Treasury yield edged lower and Bitcoin experienced a minor decrease in value.
Overall, it’s shaping up to be an eventful week for the markets as investors closely monitor earnings reports, economic indicators and geopolitical developments that could impact stock prices.
