Investing.com -- Stocks were mixed on Monday as investors prepared for a wave of earnings reports from major retailers and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell's speech on Friday.
Powell's speech at the central bank's annual conference in Jackson Hole, Wyo., comes amid expectations the Fed will pause on another interest rate increase when it next meets on policy in September. But there are differing views on where the Fed goes after that.
Some economists see one more rate increase this year, and rate cuts coming starting next year, while others see the Fed at the end of its rate increases but prepared to keep rates higher for longer.
The consumer has remained resilient in the face of inflation, which has been cooling off compared with last year's pace. Retailers should be able to project consumer spending trends heading into their important holiday sales season.
This week also features data on existing and new home sales -- critical measures of the housing market recovery amid higher mortgage rates -- and consumer sentiment for August.
Here are three things that could affect markets tomorrow:
1. Retail earnings
A number of retailers are reporting this week. Lowe’s Companies Inc (NYSE:LOW) is expected to report earnings per share of $4.47 on revenue of $24.9 billion, while Macy’s Inc (NYSE:M) is expected to report earnings of 14 cents on revenue of $5.07B. BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc (NYSE:BJ) is expected to report earnings per share of 89 cents on revenue of $5.18B.
2. Toll Brothers
Home builder Toll Brothers Inc (NYSE:TOL) is expected to report earnings per share of $2.84 on revenue of $2.4B.
3. Existing home sales
Sales of existing homes for July are due out at 10:00 ET (14:00 GMT). Analysts are expecting an annualized number of 4.15 million, down slightly from the month before.