- Big banks and airlines will report earnings this week.
- World leaders urged restraint in the Middle East.
- Donald Trump is set to be the first former president ever to face trial on felony charges on Monday.
Here are the most important news items that investors need to start their trading day:
1. Uncertainty reigns
All three major market indexes fell last week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 2.4%, marking its worst week since March 2023, while the S&P 500 tumbled 1.5% and had its worst week since October. The Nasdaq Composite, meanwhile, saw its third negative week in a row. The market losses come as surging inflation fears have left investors and Fed officials scrambling. Despite all that, U.S. stock futures ticked higher Monday morning. Looking ahead at the week, traders will be watching increasing Iran and Israel tensions, rising gold prices and upcoming earnings and economic data. Follow live market updates.
2. Iran and Israel
An anti-missile system operates after Iran launched drones and missiles towards Israel, as seen from Ashkelon, Israel April 14, 2024.
World leaders urged restraint Monday as Israel weighs its next steps after Iran launched more than 300 drones and missiles against military targets inside Israel on Saturday. Iran says its air offensive came in response to a suspected Israeli strike on its embassy compound in the Syrian capital of Damascus earlier this month. Ahead of the meeting, Israel vowed to “exact a price” from Iran, raising concerns about the prospect of a broader regional conflict. Though significant in scale, the Iranian attack caused little actual damage in Israel. Over the weekend, dozens of Middle East flights were canceled or rerouted as airspaces in the area were closed, but some airlines resumed flying Sunday.
3. Earnings season
The Goldman Sachs logo displayed on a smartphone.
It’s time for earnings again, as big banks continue to report this week. Goldman Sachs, Bank of America and Morgan Stanley will give some insight into how shifting expectations for interest rates will impact funding costs and holdings of commercial real estate loans. Airlines will also start reporting this week, with United Airlines and Alaska Air kicking off the slate. Here are the earnings to watch this week:
4. Trump trial
Donald Trump is set to be the first former president ever to face trial on felony charges on Monday. Trump has tried every tool in his disposal to dismiss or delay the multiple criminal trials he’s facing, but has had less success in New York Supreme Court. The 34 charges against him in New York might be the only ones that make it to trial before the presidential election in November. The case at hand focuses on allegations that he falsified business records as part of a scheme to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment in 2016 to porn star Stormy Daniels. Daniels says she had an extramarital affair with Trump years earlier and was paid to keep quiet. The trial is expected to last about six weeks.
5. Electric island
Aloha Kia Leeward in Waipahu, Hawaii
U.S. consumers haven’t opted for electric vehicles as fast as some industry insiders and experts had expected, but Hawaii stands out as a leader. The tropical island state this year ranks fifth in overall EV adoption at 11.9% of new retail vehicles sold through February, according to J.D. Power. It’s No. 1 among states without certain rules intended to promote EVs and cut down on emissions. The state has several factors playing into its success, including the high fuel costs on the islands, the availability of renewable energy and the local culture, says Ivan Drury, director of insights at auto research firm Edmunds, who lives in Hawaii.
— CNBC’s Hakyung Kim, Jeff Cox, Sam Meredith, Lee Ying Shan, Leslie Josephs, Robert Hum, Kevin Breuninger and Michael Wayland contributed to this report.
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