Fed minutes and Apple’s figures in focus – New York Report
Another busy week beckons,with the Federal Reserve holding a policy meeting, a plethora of big-name companies posting quarterly financial results, and a number of key economic reports are released.
Investors will be paying close attention as the Federal Open Market Committee reveals its latest policy statement on Wednesday. Wall Street does not view it as likely that the central bank will lift its historically low interest rate.
Analysts believe that global financial volatility and challenges to US growth will continue to be a big headache for policymakers.
On the earnings front, Apple, the world’s biggest technology company, reveals its quarterly results after the closing bell tomorrow.
Analysts will be keeping close tabs on how sales in China fared amid the tumult in the world’s second-biggest economy.
Other large technology players, such as Alphabet – formerly Google – and Microsoft posted upbeat quarterly results last week that sent shares rallying.
Investors will also get results from energy heavyweights ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips.
Analysts expect profits at Exxon and Chevron to have dropped by more than 50 per cent as the price of oil has collapsed over the past 12 months.
Pharma giants Pfizer and Merck disclose their earnings, as will social media giant Facebook.
On the economic front, investors will get a look at third-quarter economic growth, consumer spending, and orders for long-lasting goods.