What to expect in the markets this week: Big bank reports ramp up earnings season; Inflation and retail sales figures land

Bank executives described consumers and businesses as resilient this summer. We’ll see if they still feel that way later this week.

Several major banks are expected to report third-quarter results in the coming days, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs. Last quarter, several financial services companies far exceeded expectations. But many market watchers may be listening to the commentary — from executives like Jamie Dimon, David Solomon and others — as much as the numbers.

This summer, bank executives generally described the U.S. economy as healthy and investors and businesses as resilient. These remarks come in a context of enthusiasm for banking stocks. Deal volume was up, M&A activity was brisk, and the prospect of rising interest rates seemed to bode well for net interest income (NII).

High interest rates tend to increase NII, the spread between what banks earn on their assets and what they pay on their deposits. A high interest rate environment tends to support bank profits, although it can also reduce borrowing. This risk could be one reason why bank stocks have slumped in recent weeks.

The S&P 500 financial sector has fallen more than any other sector over the past month, falling about 4%. On the other hand, the sector was on the rise and was among the best performers in the index heading into the second quarter.

In addition to hearing from banks, investors will receive updates from UnitedHealth, supermarket operator Albertsons, chipmaker TSMC and shipping giant JB Hunt. The government, meanwhile, is expected to release data on inflation and retail spending.

Market Summary

Major indexes ended Friday’s session on a high note as technology stocks rebounded from a sharp selloff, leaving the S&P 500 and Nasdaq close to records set Tuesday. The S&P 500 posted a 1.2% gain for the week, while the Nasdaq and Dow Jones added 0.9% and 0.6%, respectively. Major indexes had retreated on Wednesday, when the yield on 10-year Treasury notes climbed to levels not seen since 2002. For more, read Friday’s market recap here.

This week’s best events

Here’s a look at the major events happening this week. TradingView publishes a more detailed schedule, but clicking the link will take you out of the Investopedia site.

• Monday, October 12: The bond market will be closed for Columbus Day. The stock market will remain open.
• Tuesday, October 13: Domino’s Pizza (DPZ) is scheduled to release its third-quarter results at 6:05 a.m. ET, followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET. The pizza delivery company exceeded expectations last year when it launched stuffed crust pizza. Inflation has reduced the frequency with which low-income consumers eat at quick-service restaurants.
• Tuesday: JPMorgan Chase (JPM) is scheduled to release third-quarter results at 7 a.m. ET, followed by a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET. Every business sector reported record quarterly revenue in July, the bank said. Other financial services companies expected to report this week include: Wells Fargo (WFC), Citigroup (C), Bank of America (BAC), Morgan Stanley (MS) and Goldman Sachs (GS).
• Tuesday: UnitedHealth Group (UNH) is expected to share its third-quarter results before the market opens and host a conference call at 8 a.m. ET. The healthcare and insurance company comfortably beat expectations in July for the second consecutive quarter. Still, UnitedHealth shares haven’t fully recovered from a selloff in early 2025. Medical device and drug maker Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) is also reporting this week.
• Tuesday: Albertsons Cos. (ACI) is expected to release its second-quarter financial results before the opening bell and host a conference call at 8:30 a.m. ET. Big grocery stores have slashed prices to attract inflation-weary shoppers, which could put pressure on smaller players as well as big companies’ profits.
• Wednesday, October 14: The Bureau of Labor Statistics is scheduled to release the September Consumer Price Index at 8:30 a.m. ET. The CPI rose 3.4% year over year in August, the same as in July. The September figure will begin to reflect price trends following the Fed’s interest rate hike in mid-September. The BLS will also update the Wholesale Producer Price Index this week.
• Wednesday: The Federal Reserve is scheduled to release its Beige Book at 2 p.m. ET. The central bank published the latest anecdotal analysis in July.
• Thursday, October 15: The Census Bureau is scheduled to release September retail trade data at 8:30 a.m. ET. Retail spending increased 1.2% from July to August.
• Thursday: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSM) is scheduled to hold a third-quarter earnings conference call at 2 p.m. ET. The contract chipmaker reported more profit than expected last quarter, but shares fell after the release, potentially because investors eyed bigger profits amid the AI ​​boom. ASML Holding (ASML), which makes equipment used by chipmakers, will also release its report this week.
• Thursday: JB Hunt Transport Services (JBHT) is scheduled to report third-quarter results after the closing bell and host a conference call at 5 p.m. ET. The shipping giant recently said rising fuel costs could cut its profits by 5% to 10%.

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