The main focus of the upcoming trading week will be the two-day Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, which begins on Tuesday. Investors will be awaiting a Wednesday policy decision to see if the Fed will maintain its dovish stance. There are a few names to watch on the earnings front, too, including delivery giant FedEx (FDX) and blue chip Nike (NKE).
Below is a brief list of some key market events scheduled for the upcoming week. All earnings dates listed below are tentative and subject to change. Please check with each company's respective website for official reporting dates.
Traders will start the week on Monday, March 18, with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) housing market index. The earnings calendar features Lumber Liquidators (LL), Overstock.com (OSTK), and Tilray (TLRY).
Tuesday, March 19, brings the start of the Fed meeting, along with factory orders. Earnings from DSW (DSW), FedEx (FDX), and Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) will be released.
On Wednesday, March 20, the Fed will announce its policy update, followed by a press conference from Fed Chair Jerome Powell. Domestic crude inventories will also come out. General Mills (GIS), Guess? (GES), and Micron (MU) will report earnings.
Jobless claims, Philadelphia Fed business outlook survey, and the Fed balance sheet make up the economic calendar for Thursday, March 21. Earnings releases out of Nike (NKE), Canadian Solar (CSIQ), Conagra (CAG), and Darden Restaurants (DRI) are also due.
Rounding out the week on
Friday, March 22, will be Markit's flash composite purchasing managers index (PMI), existing home sales, the Treasury budget, and speeches from Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic and Chicago Fed President Charles Evans. The earnings schedule features Hibbett Sporting Goods (HIBB), JinkoSolar (JKS), and Tiffany & Co (TIF).