In the upcoming week, there are several significant business and finance stories to keep an eye on. Firstly, the markets have moved away from the possibility of a mid-year rate cut by the Federal Reserve. It is now expected that any easing will start in September, as strong economic indicators and sticky inflation remain. Investors will be closely monitoring retail sales data and earnings reports from companies like Bank of America, American Express, and Discover Financial Services to gauge consumer spending.
Secondly, investors will be closely monitoring Chinese economic data throughout the week. The first quarter gross domestic product numbers are due on Tuesday, along with data on house prices and retail sales. Expectations are for a 4.6% annual growth rate, which may make it challenging for Beijing to reach its 2024 growth target of around 5%.
India will also be in the spotlight as the world’s largest democracy begins voting in national elections on April 19. The election will take place in seven phases, with results expected by June 4. Incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi is seeking a rare third consecutive term and is expected to secure an easy victory. Markets have rallied on hopes of policy continuity at the national level following Modi’s BJP-led National Democratic Alliance’s success in key state elections in December.
Lastly, finance ministers and central bank governors from around the world will gather in Washington, D.C., for the annual Spring Meeting of the IMF and World Bank. A variety of reports on economic outlook and financial stability will be released, and policymakers from the G20 and G7 will convene to discuss various topics impacting the global economy.
