Investors head into next week weighing familiar concerns over interest rates, inflation and geopolitical tensions against another robust earnings season that continues to keep stocks supported. With little fresh guidance from policymakers and uncertainty brewing over the U.S. Federal Reserve's next move, many investors are increasingly looking to corporate earnings - fueled in part by spending on AI infrastructure - to validate bullish assumptions and offset macroeconomic risks. "The primary thing is going to continue to be the Federal Reserve," said Shawn Snyder, economic strategist at Potomac Fund Management. He sees the August 27 to 29 Jackson Hole symposium as the next major opportunity for policymakers to provide clarity on how they are interpreting inflation and growth.
"If you can't look to the Fed for guidance, then you have to increasingly look to earnings for guidance."
