Big Banks Continue to Report Earnings
More big banks are scheduled to report earnings this week. Bank of America goes first, on Monday morning, followed by Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley early Tuesday. In a statement that came with his bank’s earnings release Friday, JPMorgan Chase’s chief executive, Jamie Dimon, warned of the dangers various geopolitical problems could pose for the U.S. economy, a first for Dimon this year. His counterparts at Citigroup and Wells Fargo did not bring up the topic when they reported last week, but if the stock market continues to slide, other chief executives of large banks may begin to express similar concerns.
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— EMILY FLITTER
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September Retail Sales Expected to See Improvement From Summer
The Census Bureau will release monthly retail sales results for September on Monday. Wall Street expects an improvement from the 0.1 percent increase recorded from July to August, suggesting that consumers are optimistic about the economy heading into the crucial holiday shopping season, even as interest rates rise.
— TIFFANY HSU
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Federal Reserve to Release Minutes of September Meeting
The Federal Reserve is steadily raising interest rates as the economy grows, notwithstanding the objections of President Donald Trump. The most recent increase, after the September meeting of the Fed’s policymaking committee, made the fourth consecutive quarter that the Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point. The rate now sits in a range of 2 to 2.25 percent. On Wednesday, the Fed will release the minutes of the September meeting. The Fed’s chairman, Jerome Powell, said after the meeting that he saw few clouds on the economic horizon, and the Fed indicated that it planned to raise rates again in December. The minutes are likely to reinforce expectations of another quarterly rate increase, but they could also illuminate any lingering concerns among Fed officials.
— BINYAMIN APPELBAUM
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A Fall Chill for the Housing Market
The housing market has slowed in recent months, with formerly red-hot markets like Seattle and San Francisco, in particular, showing signs of cooling off. The problem, according to many economists, is that prices have risen much faster than wages, in part because builders cannot keep up with demand. Data on housing starts and building permits, due Wednesday from the Commerce Department, should show whether builders are stepping up construction to fill the gap. Separate data on existing home sales on Friday will show whether high prices are tempting owners to put their homes on the market. Economists expect both reports to point to continued slowness.
— BEN CASSELMAN
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European and Asian Nations Seek Improved Relations at Meeting
Leaders of more than 50 European and Asian countries will hold a summit in Brussels on Thursday and Friday to discuss issues including denuclearization of Korea, the Iran nuclear deal, and trade. The summit comes as European and Asian countries seek to improve relations as a counterpoint to increased protectionism in the United States. During the meeting, the European Union will also sign a free-trade agreement with Singapore.
— JACK EWING
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China’s Q3 Growth Figures Set for Release on Friday
China’s National Bureau of Statistics is scheduled Friday in Beijing to release its next portrait of how the country’s economy is doing, including economic growth in the third quarter, as well as China’s industrial production, fixed asset investment and retail sales in September. Western economists have raised many doubts about the veracity of China’s economic growth figures, which consistently change only slightly while staying just below 7 percent. China’s exports remain strong despite President Donald Trump’s tariffs. This may partly reflect a desire by Chinese exporters to ship goods before they can be taxed. But the robust exports also probably prevented weaknesses in China’s domestic sectors from inflicting severe harm to economic growth.
— KEITH BRADSHER
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Steven Mnuchin to Embark on Weeklong Middle East Trip
Steven Mnuchin, the Treasury secretary, is scheduled to depart for a weeklong Middle East trip Friday. He is scheduled to make stops in Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait to discuss economic issues and efforts to combat terrorist financing.
— ALAN RAPPEPORT