Economists believe the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates at its meeting this week, with tꦑhe Wednesday announcement followed by a press conference with Chair Jerome Powell.

Investors will also get several economic data releases this week, including existing home sales, homebuilder confide𝔉nce, and housing starts. Retail sales data 𒁏on Tuesday could also impact markets.

FedEx (FDX), General Mills (GIS), Darden Restaurants (DRI), and homebuilder Lennar (LEN) are among the companies reporting earnings this week.

Monday, Sept. 16

• Empire State Manufacturing Index (September)

Tuesday, Sept. 17

• Retail sales (August)
• Federal Open Market Committee meeting begins
• Housing market index (September)
• Business inventories (July)

Wednesday, Sept. 18

• Housing starts and permits (August)
• FOMC interest rate announcement
• Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's press conference
• General Mills reports earnings

Thursday, Sept. 19

• Initial jobless claims (Week ending Sept. 14)
• Leading economic indicators (August)
• Existing home sales (August)
• Philadelphia Fed manufacturing survey (September)
• FedEx, Darden Restaurants, Lennar and Cracker Barrel Old Country Store (CBRL)report earnings

Friday, Sept. 20

• Lennar reports earnings

Investors Expect Rate Cut on Wednesday, Plu💮s Powell Comments, Retail Sales Report

Investors are anticipating a long-awaited reduction in borrowing costs this week when the Federal Reserve concludes its September meeting on Wednesday with a 2 p.m. ET ann♈ouncement on interest rates.

After first 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:raising🐻 interest rates in March 2022 to combat spiking inflation, the Fed gradually increased its influential 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:federal funds rate to 5.25%-5.5%, the highest levels in 23 years, and heꦕld them there for more than a year.  Now, with inflation subsiding and signals that the labor market is softening, the Fed is expected to lower interest rates for the first time in four꧟ years. 

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果♑体彩网:Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell will deliver remarks about the interest rate decision a𒁏t a press conference at 2:30 p.m. Investors will listen for clues about the Fed's next monetary policy decisions and views on the economy.

On Tuesday, retail sales data for August will provide Fed officials with a look at consumer spending, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of U.S. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Gross Domestic Product (GDP). 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Retail sales surprised in July, as resilient co🐓nsumers co🌳ntinued to defy economic forecasts.

Market watchers will also get several pieces of housing data this week, including 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:existing home sales, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:housing starts, and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:homebuilder confidence. 

FedEx, General Mills to Report Quarterly E𒀰arnings

FedEx will report earnings on Thursday. The package delivery company beat analyst expectations in its prior earnings report, as CEO Raj Subramaniam forecasted that the company would be able to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:extend its momentum into 2025. 

On Wednesday, General Mills’ report will show how the cereal maker is weathering what CEO Jeff Harmening has called a “澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:more challenging operating꧋ environment.” The maker of Betty Crocker cake mix and Blue Buffalo pet food missed sales estimates in it𒐪s most-recent quarterly report, and the company’s earnings forecast came in lower than expected.

Financial updates on Wednesday from 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Cracker Barrel and 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Olive Garden-💦parent Darden Restaurants will show whether restaurants continue to face headwinds.  Lennar’s report on Thursday comes after the homebuilder forecast 澳洲幸运5官方𒈔开奖结果体彩网:weaker-than-expected construction numbers during its prior quarterly report, indicating that demand for new homes remains soft.